Havel opposes Czech vote on U.S. missiles

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Former Czech President Vaclav Havel says no referendum is needed to allow stationing a U.S. radar base on Czech territory, media said Tuesday.

In an article criticizing the idea of the referendum in the Czech daily Pravo, Havel said the radar base as part of the U.S. anti-missile defense system in Europe will protect not only the United States, but also western and central European countries, the Czech news agency CTK reported.

Talks between Washington and Prague officials are under way, with U.S. officials planning to station the radar base in the Brdy military district, 45 miles southwest of Prague. A base with interceptor missiles is also planned to be deployed in Poland.

Last week, Czech civic groups staged a street protest in Prague, demanding the government call a referendum on the issue.

Monday, Czech Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova said parliament should vote in 2008 on whether to allow the United States to deploy the radar base on Czech territory, Praha Radio said.