The basic work on the construction of a US radar base in the Czech Republic can start at the end of this year, director of US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Henry Obering said in Prague on Wednesday.

 

According to the current plan, the United States will spend some 100 million US dollars on the radar base in the initial stage, said Obering, who is attending a two-day seminar on trade cooperation between the Czech Republic and the United States in Prague.

 

Czech firms can help Americans with the construction, mechanics, telecommunication and energy installations, he added.

 

Czech Deputy Defense Minister Martin Bartak said his country could offer its experiences in nanotechnology, chemistry, biotechnology, explosives, computers and army repair works.

 

At present, the United States is cooperating with Japan, Italy, Australia, Britain and Denmark on the missile defense shield. Talks are underway with another seven countries.

 

On Friday, US experts will see the institute of physics in Prague-Kobylisy with a specialized laser.

 

The United States initiated the plan to deploy an anti-missile radar base in the Czech Republic and a missile interceptor base in Poland.

 

Negotiations between the Czech Republic and the United States on the radar project are still underway, while the former is expected to give its final decision later this year.

 

Russia has expressed its strong objections to the US missile defense program in Poland and the Czech Republic, citing its own security.

 

Some 70 percent of Czechs reject the planned US radar base in their country, according to the latest survey conducted by the CVVM polling institute.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)