The United States and the Czech Republic failed Wednesday to complete an agreement on basing a U.S. anti-missile radar facility near Prague because of a Czech demand for strict environmental rules. However, both sides predicted the matter could be settled quickly. “These aren't easy agreements to put in place,” President George W. Bush said after White House talks with visiting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. “But we feel optimistic that we will get this done.” “There are only three words remaining to be resolved and discussed,” Topolanek said. “We're actually looking for … the strictest possible standards to be applied in terms of ensuring and guaranteeing environmental protection. … But that's just a technical matter which is going to be resolved very soon. It's not any problem.” The U.S. missile-defense plans call for an early-warning radar facility in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in silos in Poland. The proposed system is controversial in Europe and has further strained U.S. relations with Russia, which views the plans as a threat to its security. Bush reiterated that Russia, with its huge missile stockpile and capabilities that could overwhelm the kind of system being planned, is not the target. Instead, the system is intended as a defense against the possibility that a “rogue state” like Iran could fire long-range missiles or use them as political blackmail. Iran currently does not have missiles capable of reaching Europe. “This is a system to deal with threats that will be evolving in the 21st century,” Bush said. “The interesting opportunity is for Russia to realize the benefits of such a system by extending the radar coverage into their country because they will be under the same threat of radicalism that we will be,” Bush said, referring to U.S. assets and allies in Europe. Bush signaled that the issue is not for Russia to decide. He told reporters after his meeting with Topolanek that the Czech leader told him privately that it is his government, not Moscow, that will determine what happens on Czech land. “He made it clear to me that the Czech Republic will be making decisions about who gets to come into their country,” he said. Topolanek has said his government will not finalize a deal with the United States until Poland also is part of the agreement. Still, there was some speculation that Bush and the Czech leader would sign an agreement on the radar facility during their White House meetings.
