Russia’s military chief told the Czech Republic it would be making a “big mistake” to host a U.S. missile defense shield on its soil and urged Prague on Tuesday to delay a decision until a new U.S. president is elected.
The Czech Republic is discussing hosting a radar station which would form part of the U.S. missile shield -- a system designed to intercept and destroy missiles from “rogues states” but which Moscow sees as a threat to its security.
“We say it will be a big mistake by the Czech government to put this radar site on Czech territory,” said Yuri Baluyevsky, the Russian military chief of staff, after meeting the Czech deputy defense minister, Martin Bartak.
He said the Czech Republic should hold off making a decision until after the U.S. presidential election, scheduled to take place in late 2008. Incumbent President Bush will not be running.
“A decision will be made by the Czech side only after the evaluation of all conditions, technical and otherwise,” said Baluyevsky.
“I and my Russian colleagues simply ask that that process continue through to October-November of 2008, and I think you can all guess why.”
Asked by a reporter to clarify, he said: “I do not exclude that a new administration in the United States will re-evaluate the current administration’s decisions on missile defense.”
Russia's ex-allies embrace NATO
The missile shield is the latest in a series of moves by Moscow’s former Warsaw Pact allies to embrace NATO, effectively moving the West’s military capabilities closer to Russia.
Baluyevsky said the Czech move was a political rather than a military decision.
“In my opinion it is a great disappointment that today’s discussion sees no change in the last four months by the Czech government. You have taken a decision to continue construction of a radar site on Czech territory,” he said.
“There are unfounded allegations that Russia is attempting to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe.”
Bartak stressed that his government had not yet made a decision. “The most important thing I can say is that we have not yet said the final word on this and we will not until we have explored all avenues,” he said.
Baluyevsky made his comments on the 39th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring,” when Soviet tanks ended an attempt by the government of the day to promote liberal reforms.
