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Czech Happenings June 25, 2002 Allies to take part in air defence during Prague NATO summit ���PRAGUE, June 25 (CTK) - Allies from NATO will help the Czech Republic to ensure the increased protection of its air space during the Prague NATO summit in November, government commissioner for the preparation of the summit Alexander Vondra told journalists today. ���"I think that the Defence Ministry approaches the task very responsibly and sufficiently in advance. I believe that we will be able to fully ensure the protection of our air space," Vondra said, referring to a classified document on the protection of the air space drafted by the Defence Ministry. ���Vondra stressed that the protection of the recent NATO- Russian summit in Rome was also ensured in a similar way. ���The Czech air force has out-dated MiG-21 fighter jets, four of which have been allocated for NATO needs, has started operating the subsonic L-159 fighters which, however, are not yet completely equipped, and it has combat helicopters. ���The government intended to purchase new supersonic Jas-39 Gripen fighters but the parliament did not approve the purchase. Anyway, even if the government bill had been approved the Czech Republic would have only received first Gripens in 2004, at a time when the life span of MiGs expires. ���The Czech Republic also has its own anti-aircraft protection force and land-air missiles. Following last year's September 11 attacks on New York and Washington increased security measures have been introduced, including special measures of the protection of the air space over nuclear power plants which are still in effect. ���During the NATO summit Prague will host 46 heads of state, including 19 NATO member states and another 27 states participating in the Partnership for Peace programme. ���Besides about 2,000 official guests are expected to arrive in Prague and about 3,000 journalists. ���The Prague event may attract an expected 10,000 to 15,000 demonstrators. ���The summit is to invite new candidate countries to join NATO. The candidates are Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Publikovano na serveru Ceske noviny (www.ceskenoviny.cz) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
