It took about two months for me to finally get answers from the Czech Senator about the proposed U.S. radar base. It would have been great to include his comments in my final paper at the Danish School of Journalism, but unfortunately that couldn’t happen. Here is the transcript of our e-mail correspondence anyway.
1. What is the Czech Senate of Parliament’s stance regarding the radar base?
Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic has not dealt with the issue of possible location of the American radar base yet. We ought to wait until the Government delivers the agreement dully signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and United States of America to the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Only then we will deal with it. Minister of Foreign Affairs has been informing the Senators on regular basis throughout the entire course of negotiations and the communication was therefore very good indeed. However, individual political parties represented in the Senate do have different opinions and standpoints. The Civic Democratic Party generally supports the radar base while the Communists are distinctively against. Other political parties do not have a clear stance.
2. Have Czech politicians taken public opinion into consideration when deciding on the missile defence system?
Defence issues are very complicated and sensitive indeed. Nobody is interested in arms drive or war situation. On the other hand a longsighted politician considers not only the real, but also possible security threats and needs to decide accordingly. However, one must thoroughly explain the decision making process to the citizens and clarify the context as well. The Czech Government is successful in doing this with the radar, because the latest opinion polls indicate the support for radar among the Czech citizens is modestly raising. Unfortunately, the opposition party demagogically misinforms the public thus disturbs the healthy spirit among the citizens.
3. The anti-base people are pushing for a referendum on this issue. Is a referendum possible, and why or why not?
There are three topics that should never be subject to referendum. Taxation, questions of race and issues related to defence of a sovereign country. In order to make a qualified decision for example about the radar, you need plenty of information, but at the same time you cannot disseminate some of the information for security reasons without jeopardizing safety of the citizens. Therefore the citizens entrusted the right to decide about defence in general to military experts and politicians. On top of that defence of a country cannot be subject to a political competition provided you are not a Communist.
Furthermore, there is no reason for a referendum in case of the radar base. There was a reason for referendum when we joined the European Union, because we had to decide whether or not we will transfer part of our sovereignty to the multinational authorities in Brussels. However, there was no reason for a referendum when we joined NATO and there is no reason for a referendum when it comes to the radar base decision. After all it is the Government and the Parliament who decide about involvement of our troops in missions abroad. This issue is politically misused which is a great pity.
4. Is there a timeline in mind for when the deal between the Czech Republic and the US will be completed?
This is a question for the Government. Generally speaking, we are not being pressed by time. Other agreements have to be finalised and then the Government will present the complete package to the both chambers of the Parliament at once. We anticipate that this will happen in the autumn of 2008.
5. What type of coalition will be necessary for the deal to pass through Czech Parliament? ie: Will the Green Party have an important role?
The radar deal will be decided in both chambers of the Czech Parliament. All parties have an equal importance irrespective of how they decide to vote. Nevertheless each and every party will clearly indicate with their vote how serious they are about democracy, its strengthening and defence. The Green Party should support the deal considering the fact that their main requirement and concern has been met (radar base an integral part of NATO strategy). I believe the Green Party will support the deal. There will be no troubles in passing the deal in the upper house, in the Senate thanks to its current composition. However, there could be some issues in the lower house.
6. How important is NATO approval for the legitimacy of this project?
The radar base in our country and the interceptor missile base in Poland are legitimate projects anyway. In case the system is to be integrated into the NATO defence systems, which was already supported by NATO representatives as well as by Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs of countries involved, the project would gain even more importance. It will be even bigger obligation for us and it also magnifies the importance of our decision. A number of bilateral projects that were originally initiated by individual NATO member countries later became an integral part of the entire NATO system. And it would be the same story in our case.
7. Do you feel that the upcoming US election will influence the project?
Defence of a country is usually not subject to actual political influences and moods. This is especially true in case of defence of the United States of America. This is a very serious issue and if the experts come up with a thesis that the threat is imminent every responsible politician has to decide whether he will protect his own country or whether he will expose his homeland to security threats due to his pure populism. I do not believe there are politicians in the USA that would behave in such a populist way. On top of that the Democrats do not even doubt the project. The very basic foreign policy trend does not change after any elections in the USA.
8. Do you feel that the base will make the Czech Republic a target for terrorist attacks, or cause consequences from Russia?
The Czech Republic joined the anti-Saddam coalition. Our troops are very successful in their operations in Afghanistan. We are in war against terrorism together with the Americans and other countries right from the beginning. Therefore the threat is real for us. But that is the reason why we need to defend ourselves and get ready for possible threats.
And the Russians are very well aware of the fact that neither our radar nor the interceptor missiles will be targeted against Russia. They just started to play a diplomatic and political game, which is something quite understandable if you consider their internal politics. They adopted a similar approach during NATO enlargement. Their reactions should rather speed up our decision making process and consent with the radar base. We have already once hesitated to decide whether to join the West and adopt the Marshall plan or whether to move towards the East and refuse it. We then felt the consequences of the decision taken by the Communist leaders of our country for another forty years day after day. Moreover, membership of the Czech Republic in the European Union, NATO and now the prospective radar base clearly confirm that our country has returned to the democratic world for good. At the same time this very much changes the line of demarcation after the Second World War as well as division of Europe.
9. How would you describe the US-Czech relationship? How will this relationship change or be affected if the base is constructed? What if it isn’t constructed?
Relationships of the Czech Republic with the USA are very good indeed. I personally perceive our co-operation with the USA in the field of defence, science, research, etc. as an integral part of our integration into the European structures. We are NATO members. And I am convinced that majority of our population is well aware of the fact who gave Europe the helping hand in the First World War, in the Second World War, during the Cold War and last, but not least in the War for Balkans – the United States of America.
On top of that acceptance of the radar base will give the Czech Republic access to state-of-the-art scientific laboratories and research. It will extend mutual co-operation in research, science and education. Our alliance with the USA will be even closer and we will also be perceived as the real defenders and advocates of democracy and Western hence our values.
10. Do you think that the missile defence base will be constructed in the Czech Republic?
Yes, I am convinced that it will be built and I will personally vote in favour of the radar base. Furthermore, I will do my best by virtue of my position of the Senate President to get the treaties ratified.
“On top of that the Democrats do not even doubt the project. The very basic foreign policy trend does not change after any elections in the USA.”
I think, unfortunately, that this is a correct assessment. I’m sure others would disagree, but ultimately the differences between republicans and democrats are not as varied as some would hope.