US President George. W. Bush arrived in Prague, the capital of
the Czech republic, in late evening hours on Monday for a working
visit.
All flights scheduled for the evenings on Monday were delayed
due to Bush's arrival. Prague Castle and adjoining streets have
been closed. Transportation in the city center was suspended.
The same day, some 2000 people protested against the possible
stationing of a US radar base on Czech territory in the center of
Prague on the occasion of Bush's visit.
The demonstration was organized by the No To Bases group.
Another group of people who protested against the radar base
outside the US embassy earlier this afternoon joined the
demonstration later. The protest outside the US embassy was
organized by the Communist Youth (KSM) and the Communist Party
(KSCM).
Bush, who pays a two-day visit to Prague on 4th and 5th June,
will mainly discuss the planned stationing of the US radar base on
Czech territory with the Czech leaders.
The United States made a formal request in January to place a
radar base in the Brdy military area southwest of Prague and 10
interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland as part of a planned
global missile defense shield.
The first and the second round of Czech-US talks on the radar
base was completed in May. The talks are to last several months.
Washington expects the Czechs to give a clear final answer on the
base after Jan. 1, 2008.
During his stay, Bush will also talk about the possibility of
including the Czech Republic in the US visa waiver regime.
(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2007)
