She said though it was not in order that the SZ ministers supported the government's decision to approve the main Czech-U.S.
treaty on the stationing of a U.S. missile defence radar base on Czech soil, at variance with the SZ national congress's resolution, the situation should be dealt with at a regular party congress, either in November or at the beginning of December. On Monday, SZ foreign policy section head Jiri Caslavka called on his party colleagues to consider holding Danes suspected of robbery to be taken to homeland from CzechRep ...
Czechs want to help create European care for elderly policy ... an extraordinary congress over the behaviour of SZ chairman Martin Bursik as soon as possible. Caslavka claims that Bursik is trying to stay in the government at any cost and is more loyal towards the cabinet than his own party. Bursik, deputy PM and environment minister, was criticised mainly for defending the planned stationing of a U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic. The radar in the Brdy military district, some 90 km southwest of Prague, and a base for ten interceptor missiles in Poland are to be part of the U.S. missile defence shield that is to protect its territory and a large part of Europe against missiles that states like Iran might launch. Kuchtova said in her letter that she was not opposed to calling an extraordinary congress and believed there were reasons to do so. "However, I think that the regional and Senate elections are the main priority," said Kuchtova who is one of the largest critics of Bursik in the party and who intends to run for SZ chairwoman against him. The Green Party's stand on the radar is clear and there is no need to call an extraordinary congress, Kuchtova said. At present, there is no guarantee that the U.S. radar base will be included in the NATO missile defence system, she said, adding that the rejection of the radar treaty would not violate the continuity of the Czech government's policy because the topic of radar was not part of the coalition agreement. "Our rejection of the treaty is not an ultimatum or clear support of the left," Kuchtova said. On the contrary, the behaviour of the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) is tantamount to an ultimatum, she said. The ODS says the radar is its priority and it is not interested in the views of the Czech public, she said. The Greens thus should discuss not only the radar at their next congress but also their idea of government responsibility, Kuchtova said. Almost two-thirds of Czechs are against the stationing of the U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic, according to the latest public opinion polls. While voters of the ODS are in favour of the plan it is rejected by the supporters of the remaining governing parties, the Greens and the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), and most resolutely by voters of the the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) and Communists (KSCM). Some 70 percent of Czechs believe a referendum should decide on the plan.
(Ceske Noviny)
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