http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=300722

 Brussels- A U.S. radar base on Czech soil would strengthen the security of the Czech Republic even without interceptor missiles that the United States plans to station in Poland, Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar told journalists.

 Pojar said the Czechs negotiations with Americans on the radar aim at strengthening the security of the Czech Republic and NATO.

The USA is negotiating with the Czech Republic and Poland separately. It now seems that the Czechs will sign the treaties enabling the possible stationing of the U.S. base sooner than the Polish-American talks on 10 interceptor missiles will end.

The U.S. plan to locate elements of its missile defence shield in Central Europe are strongly opposed by Russia. A majority of Czechs is against the base, too.

Pojar said the data from the radar could enhance the alliance's capacity.

He said there are other technical solutions to protect the territory against long-range missiles than the interceptor missiles in Poland.