missile defense cooperation

First Consultations on Missile Defense Concluded

May 11, 2007

The first consultations over the legal aspects of positioning U.S. personnel that would support the proposed American radar on Czech territory concluded in Prague on May 11, 2007.¨

The two-day talks with the U.S. delegation led by Senior Advisor for Security Negotiations and Agreements in the Bureau of Political Military Affairs in the Department of State, Ambassador Robert Loftis, on the American side, and Defense Ministry Director of Defense Policy and Strategy Ivan Dvorak on the Czech side.  Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar was present at the majority of the talks.   

The consultations were held mostly by legal experts on both sides.  On the Czech side, representatives of Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs as well as Justice, Interior and Finances participated in the negotiations.  During the discussions, both sides clarified a number of factual and legal issues and they agreed on areas any future agreement should cover.  Both sides have also agreed that NATO SOFA will form the basis of the future agreement.

“The meeting went well.  We identified areas of agreement and areas we need to work on.  I appreciate the preparation and thoroughness of the Czech team and the usefulness of the discussion,” added the head of the U.S. delegation Ambassador Loftis at the conclusion of the talks. 

“The negotiations over the legal aspects of the possible positioning of the radar facility in the Czech Republic will continue in the next several months.  At the end of May this year, negotiations over the main U.S.-Czech agreement on the positioning of the radar facility will begin.  Discussions over both agreements will be closely coordinated and the content of these agreements will be mutually interconnected,” said the head of the Czech delegation Ivan Dvořák.