Czech Senate opens debate on missile defence accords

Nov 27, 2008, 10:03 GMT

Prague - The Czech parliament's upper house Thursday began debating treaties that allow the United States to place its missile defence base on Czech territory.

The Senate is expected to approve the pacts as the three-party governing coalition of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has a majority of 45 in the 81-seat house.

The missile shield treaties face a hurdle in parliament's closely-divided lower house where Topolanek lacks a clear majority for the US project.

In a bid to win over plan's opponents, the premier would prefer the final lower house vote to take place after US president-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 20.

Washington would like to erect a tracking radar for a European arm of its missile shield in a military zone south-west of Prague, accompanied by 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.

Governments in Prague and Warsaw continue to support the project whose fate is unclear under the upcoming US administration. Obama has said that he would support the project if it works.

The outgoing Bush administration has said that the European bases are to protect most of the continent and the US from potential long- range missiles from countries such as Iran. But Russia has strongly opposed the project, calling it a threat to its own security.