Americas

Bush: Russia shouldn't fear US defense

(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-05 21:22
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Klaus said he had frank and open discussions with Bush on the radar system, which would be placed inside the sprawling Brdy military zone southwest of Prague, "and we understand each other."

"We are aware that the US bears high responsibility for the situation in the world, and I would like to stress that the United States and President Bush have our support in that," said Klaus, whose country has deployed troops to the US-led campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Topolanek has endorsed the shield, and Klaus has said he is open to the concept. Even former President Vaclav Havel, who led the Velvet Revolution that toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia in 1989, has waded into the fray by publicly ridiculing Russia's objections.

But many ordinary Czechs worry that it could make them terrorist targets.

On Monday, several hundred people demonstrated near the castle, chanting "Shame on Bush!," carrying cardboard rockets and waving banners that read: "Bush: World Hate Tour 2007." No protests were planned for Tuesday.

US officials argue that the missile shield would protect both the United States and Europe from a rocket attack by Iran if the Islamic republic gains nuclear weapons capability. Tehran says its nuclear program is purely peaceful; the US contends it is covertly trying to build a bomb.

Russia, however, is deeply distrustful of any US missiles in Europe - particularly in nations such as the Czech Republic and Poland, both of which were in the Soviet orbit during the Cold War.

Putin said his government would consider aiming nuclear weapons at US military bases in Europe if Washington goes ahead with the shield.

On Tuesday, China also criticized the US plan, saying the anti-missile system could set off an arms race. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the proposal "is not conducive to mutual trust of major nations and regional security."

Paula DeSutter, the US assistant secretary for verification, compliance and implementation, said Tuesday the US wants to work closely with Russia on arms control in places such as North Korea. But she expressed incomprehension over Moscow's bellicose response to the Eastern Europe shield.

"It's hard to take their rhetoric as anything other than bullying. But on the other hand, when somebody acts like a bully, it is usually because they are frightened of something and we don't want it to be like that," DeSutter said in Brussels, Belgium.

In Prague, Bush also said he was working with the US Congress to ease visa restrictions for Czechs.

The European Union is pressing for visa-free travel for all 27 of its member states, including the Czech Republic, which joined the bloc in 2004.

After the G-8 summit, Bush plans brief stops in Poland, Italy, Albania and Bulgaria.

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