Events 2007

Congressman Trent Franks met President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus

Congressman Trent Franks: "Radar System Will Help Protect Not Only The USA, But All Of Europe"

Complete text of Congressman Franks' Keynote Speech on Missile Defense

September 4, 2007

U.S. Congressman Trent Franks visited the Czech Republic August 29 – 31 to discuss European-U.S. missile defense cooperation.

U.S. Republican Congressman Trent Franks stressed that politicians must explain to people that real threats of attacks from hostile countries exist.  Franks said he  understands that citizens usually regard something new with mistrust. He said the interceptor site planned in Poland and the radar system in the Czech Republic would "help protect not only the USA, but all of Europe," and stressed that "we can work together to make our citizens safer." If Poland and the Czech Republic agree with the U.S. construction of a missile defense shield, the U.S. would secure funding in spite of the fact that the House of Representatives recently cut the budget for the preparatory works on the facilities.    

Franks, who is in Prague at the invitation of the Czech government, said "I can assure you with deep conviction that if our countries can come to an agreement... the money will be available, the facility will be built."

Congressman Franks is a Member of the House Committee on Armed Services and co-founder of the Bipartisan House Missile Defense Caucus. He is going to speak at the Year 2007 Multinational Ballistic Missile Defense Conference September 4-6 in Maastricht, the Netherlands.