The Initiative's standpoint towards the so-called Main Agreement regarding the radar
4.9.2008
The No-Bases Initiative is responding to the “Agreement on establishing a United States ballistic missile defence radar site in the Czech Republic”, or the so-called Main Agreement regarding the radar, signed by the Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, and the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, on the 8th July 2008 in Prague.
The No-Bases Initiative is highlighting the United States' condition in the agreement of “exclusive command and control over ballistic missile defense operations” (Article X,1.). This would give the decision-making over a part of a strategic arms system on our territory to someone else.
This despite the assurances in the preamble about a “common understanding on future efforts to achieve the maximum possible interoperability between the United States ballistic missile defense system and a NATO missile defense system” which prove, to the contrary, that a two-tier, parallel defence system is anticipated here – an American one, and an (in future) allied one.
We assert that an “interoperability” does not mean an integration of the American radar into the NATO structures, a fact that should be borne in mind especially by the heads of our Green Party. The Agreement mentions only the support of a “close coordination between NATO and the United States in the development of their missile defense capabilities” (Article III, 1.) not any joint effort in this field.
It is then quite unbelievable that the preamble states that “NATO is the primary means of ensuring the collective defence of the North Atlantic area” - why should then the Czech Republic need to sign an extra, two-page Agreement outside the official NATO framework? Why does the Agreement assert that “the security of the North Atlantic area is indivisible” when we know for sure that the intended American shield is not going to cover all NATO member states, thus actually harming the principle of the said indivisibility?
Further, the Agreement speaks unequivocally of “the continuing development of the global ballistic missile defence system” (Article X, 8.). It is then to be expected that a further widening and development of controversial US installations will take place, most probably including the militarisation of the cosmos. There's no need to emphasise that every step in this direction is bringing us closer to a new arms race and to a threat of a serious confrontation.
How many more missiles and radars will the world have to see built for one single superpower to feel safe? Without the answer to this question, it is impossible to make a competent decision about a radar in the Czech republic.
Even the current “limited” missile defence, in particular its European part, anticipates a radar in the Czech Republic, ten anti-missiles in Poland, satellites in the cosmos, radar in the Caucasus, and more radars and missile systems in the Mediterranean area. In fact, the United States are planning to place 250 to 300 (anti)missiles, as stated by an Army expert, Major General Antonín Rašek (in his article „Medvědí služba radaru“, 17.3.2008).
It is therefore no surprise that the Radar Agreement already mentions “the continued participation of the Czech Republic in the United States ballistic missile defense program”, and – rather vaguely – an “extending (of) the United States ballistic missile defense system to make missile defense capabilities available to the Czech Republic” (Article X, 9.).
By agreeing to the radar, the Czech Republic would put itself in danger, this the Agreement is clear about. Therefore it promises to “address threats to the Czech Republic related to the presence of the radar site in the Czech Republic”. The agreement explicitly anticipates possible “threats to the radar site” (Article XIV, 7.); such a site would therefore represent a security risk to the Czech Republic.
The No Bases Initiative holds to its demand that a referendum is held, or new elections, where Czech citizens may decide whether they wish to take on such a risk. Without such means, the inclusion of Czech Republic in the American anti-missile defence system would not be democratically legitimate.
The Agreement also contains several fairly non-compatible assertions, even regarding such a fundamental issue as a national sovereignty. The Czech Republic is to offer the US its territory “without prejudice to its full sovereignty” (Article IV, 1.). But further on, the Agreement states somewhat differently: “The United States shall have exclusive use and control of and unrestricted access to the radar site area” (Article VI, 1.). And in a similar vein: the United States may, at its discretion, maintain, equip, and operate ballistic missile defense structures and infrastructure, including operational and support facilities and infrastructure (Article VII, 1.).
From the quotes above it is evident that if the Czech Republic accepts the American radar base, it will have in effect limited its national sovereignty, i.e. control over its own territory.
It is fairly evident that, in conjunction with the radar, the Czech state will also incur extra expenses, at least as the result of the regulation of Article XIV, 1. of the Agreement, which states that “The Czech Republic shall be responsible for ensuring adequate external security and protection of the radar site”. The Agreement also indirectly touches on a no-fly zone in the vicinity of the radar (Article XII, 8.), the extent of which is, however, still subject to some disagreement between the government and the independent experts.
Lastly, the Initiative wishes to state that the so-called Main Agreement regarding the radar is disadvantageous for the Czech Republic. From an international standpoint, the Agreement certainly will not increase international peace and security, as the preamble boasts. Therefore we call upon our Members of Parliament not to accept this Agreement, and on our fellow citizens to further active protests against the radar.
Press spokespersons:
Jan Májíček, tel. 604 357 215, email: maja_konf@yahoo.co.uk
Ivona Novomestská, tel. 777 232 883, email: ivona.n@email.cz
Ing. Jan Tamáš, Ph.D., tel. 776 785 839, email: jan.tamas@humanisti.cz
The "No to the Bases" initiative formed in June 2006 as a response to the news about US-Czech negotiations, held without public knowledge, to place a permanent US military base in the Czech Republic. The main objectives of the initiative is to prevent the installation of a US radar base in the Czech Republic by using non-violent forms of action and to demand a referendum on this issue.
Members of the initiative aim to stimulate and contribute to public debate surrounding the issue and to inform the public about the consequences of the establishment of a permanent US military base in the Czech Republic.
"No to the Bases" initiative is a wide informal coalition open to organizations and individuals agreeing with its objectives and principles. Members of the Initiative include approximately sixty organizations and many prominent individuals.
The No-Bases Initiative is highlighting the United States' condition in the agreement of “exclusive command and control over ballistic missile defense operations” (Article X,1.). This would give the decision-making over a part of a strategic arms system on our territory to someone else.
This despite the assurances in the preamble about a “common understanding on future efforts to achieve the maximum possible interoperability between the United States ballistic missile defense system and a NATO missile defense system” which prove, to the contrary, that a two-tier, parallel defence system is anticipated here – an American one, and an (in future) allied one.
We assert that an “interoperability” does not mean an integration of the American radar into the NATO structures, a fact that should be borne in mind especially by the heads of our Green Party. The Agreement mentions only the support of a “close coordination between NATO and the United States in the development of their missile defense capabilities” (Article III, 1.) not any joint effort in this field.
It is then quite unbelievable that the preamble states that “NATO is the primary means of ensuring the collective defence of the North Atlantic area” - why should then the Czech Republic need to sign an extra, two-page Agreement outside the official NATO framework? Why does the Agreement assert that “the security of the North Atlantic area is indivisible” when we know for sure that the intended American shield is not going to cover all NATO member states, thus actually harming the principle of the said indivisibility?
Further, the Agreement speaks unequivocally of “the continuing development of the global ballistic missile defence system” (Article X, 8.). It is then to be expected that a further widening and development of controversial US installations will take place, most probably including the militarisation of the cosmos. There's no need to emphasise that every step in this direction is bringing us closer to a new arms race and to a threat of a serious confrontation.
How many more missiles and radars will the world have to see built for one single superpower to feel safe? Without the answer to this question, it is impossible to make a competent decision about a radar in the Czech republic.
Even the current “limited” missile defence, in particular its European part, anticipates a radar in the Czech Republic, ten anti-missiles in Poland, satellites in the cosmos, radar in the Caucasus, and more radars and missile systems in the Mediterranean area. In fact, the United States are planning to place 250 to 300 (anti)missiles, as stated by an Army expert, Major General Antonín Rašek (in his article „Medvědí služba radaru“, 17.3.2008).
It is therefore no surprise that the Radar Agreement already mentions “the continued participation of the Czech Republic in the United States ballistic missile defense program”, and – rather vaguely – an “extending (of) the United States ballistic missile defense system to make missile defense capabilities available to the Czech Republic” (Article X, 9.).
By agreeing to the radar, the Czech Republic would put itself in danger, this the Agreement is clear about. Therefore it promises to “address threats to the Czech Republic related to the presence of the radar site in the Czech Republic”. The agreement explicitly anticipates possible “threats to the radar site” (Article XIV, 7.); such a site would therefore represent a security risk to the Czech Republic.
The No Bases Initiative holds to its demand that a referendum is held, or new elections, where Czech citizens may decide whether they wish to take on such a risk. Without such means, the inclusion of Czech Republic in the American anti-missile defence system would not be democratically legitimate.
The Agreement also contains several fairly non-compatible assertions, even regarding such a fundamental issue as a national sovereignty. The Czech Republic is to offer the US its territory “without prejudice to its full sovereignty” (Article IV, 1.). But further on, the Agreement states somewhat differently: “The United States shall have exclusive use and control of and unrestricted access to the radar site area” (Article VI, 1.). And in a similar vein: the United States may, at its discretion, maintain, equip, and operate ballistic missile defense structures and infrastructure, including operational and support facilities and infrastructure (Article VII, 1.).
From the quotes above it is evident that if the Czech Republic accepts the American radar base, it will have in effect limited its national sovereignty, i.e. control over its own territory.
It is fairly evident that, in conjunction with the radar, the Czech state will also incur extra expenses, at least as the result of the regulation of Article XIV, 1. of the Agreement, which states that “The Czech Republic shall be responsible for ensuring adequate external security and protection of the radar site”. The Agreement also indirectly touches on a no-fly zone in the vicinity of the radar (Article XII, 8.), the extent of which is, however, still subject to some disagreement between the government and the independent experts.
Lastly, the Initiative wishes to state that the so-called Main Agreement regarding the radar is disadvantageous for the Czech Republic. From an international standpoint, the Agreement certainly will not increase international peace and security, as the preamble boasts. Therefore we call upon our Members of Parliament not to accept this Agreement, and on our fellow citizens to further active protests against the radar.
Press spokespersons:
Jan Májíček, tel. 604 357 215, email: maja_konf@yahoo.co.uk
Ivona Novomestská, tel. 777 232 883, email: ivona.n@email.cz
Ing. Jan Tamáš, Ph.D., tel. 776 785 839, email: jan.tamas@humanisti.cz
The "No to the Bases" initiative formed in June 2006 as a response to the news about US-Czech negotiations, held without public knowledge, to place a permanent US military base in the Czech Republic. The main objectives of the initiative is to prevent the installation of a US radar base in the Czech Republic by using non-violent forms of action and to demand a referendum on this issue.
Members of the initiative aim to stimulate and contribute to public debate surrounding the issue and to inform the public about the consequences of the establishment of a permanent US military base in the Czech Republic.
"No to the Bases" initiative is a wide informal coalition open to organizations and individuals agreeing with its objectives and principles. Members of the Initiative include approximately sixty organizations and many prominent individuals.
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