PRAGUE, November 13. /TASS/. Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Sunday statements by a number of U.S. politicians about possible deployment of a U.S. global missile shield’s radar in the Czech Republic are pure fiction.
- Moscow slams US marines’ deployment in Norway
- Moscow sees deployment of US interceptor missiles in Romania as INF treaty violation
- Obama announces deployment of about 1,000 US soldiers in Poland
- Russia voices concern over Japan’s part in US missile shield deployment
- Russian diplomat stresses US marines deployment to Norway won't improve security
- Russia will consider deployment of US THAAD in South Korea in defense planning
"It is pure fiction. It will never come true," he told the Czech television.
"A radar in the Czech territory would mean further escalation in relations with Russia," he said. "We need to use the window opening after Donald Trump’s election [as U.S. president] to have the United States and Russia sit down at one table."
Sobotka said he is negative about possible revival of the topic of deployment of a U.S. radar in the Czech Republic that was closed several years ago. "Today, we have absolutely different problems in the sphere of security," he said, adding that the most pressing problem today is to put an end to the war in Syria.
Unless this problem is resolved, there will be no end to refugee flows to the European Union from the Middle East, he said.
"The United States has considerable influence on the situation in Syria, Russia has considerable influence. So, it is necessary to use this," the Czech prime minister said, adding that Donald Trump can use his new status as U.S. president to establish more efficient cooperation with Russia on Syria.