UPDATE 2-Czechs agree to open talks on U.S. missile shield

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By Jan Lopatka

PRAGUE, March 28 (Reuters) - The Czech government agreed on Wednesday to open talks with the United States on building part of a U.S. missile defence shield in the former communist country, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said.

The United States has asked to build a radar station near Prague and a missile battery in Poland under a plan to expand its defence against ballistic missiles which could be fired from what it calls "rogue states" like Iran or North Korea.

"The Czech Republic recognises the threats against which the defence shield should be set," Topolanek told a news conference.

He said the government would hand over a diplomatic note to the Americans which sets conditions for the talks.

The plan has drawn strong opposition from Russia, which sees the missile shield as a threat to its security and an encroachment on its former sphere of influence.

"The Russian side will of course have to consider this in their defence policies," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin told Interfax news agency.

Some European allies have also been protesting the U.S. approach, saying it was wrong to build the shield on a bilateral basis rather than as a Europe-wide defence scheme.

The Czechs addressed this concern in the note, saying they wished the system would become multilateral.

"(The Czech Republic) recognises the need of a development of a NATO missile defence system and informs the American side that it will strive to include the radar station into a future NATO missile defence architecture," Topolanek said.

Washington says its shield would cover most of Europe and be compatible with an eventual NATO system.

The United States wants to deploy the radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland by 2011-12.

The centre-right Czech government faces opposition against the radar on the home front as well.

Many Czechs reject any foreign military presence in the country which was invaded by Warsaw Pact armies in 1968. The radar, which would be located southeast of Prague, would be serviced by about 200 U.S. soldiers.

An opinion poll released by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday showed 62 percent of Czechs were against the radar, while 30 percent supported it.

The government will struggle to push ratification of a potential agreement through parliament where it lacks majority and where the opposition has said it is against the plan.

A junior government party, the Greens, have demanded that there is a specific guarantee the shield becomes part of a NATO system.

Government officials have said the negotiations may be concluded by autumn and parliament may vote on it in early 2008.

Keywords: CZECH MISSILES/