Prague - U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will most probably come for a visit to the Czech Republic in October, Czech deputy foreign minister Tomas Pojar said.

The Czech daily Mlada fronta Dnes has written that Gates will arrive in Prague this Sunday already. However, the daily apologised for the incorrect information on the Internet server iDnes later today.

The media have speculated about various dates of Gates's possible visit. According to some information, he might arrive on October 23. The main topic of his Czech negotiations will probably be the radar base the USA wants to build in the Brdy military district, southwest of Prague.

Several U.S. delegations have already visited the Czech Republic in connection with the planned radar, which, along with a missile interceptor base in Poland, is to be part of the U.S. anti-missile shield.

U.S. President George W.Bush promoted the project during his visit to Prague in June. He said he is aware how important the winning of the Czech public's support for the radar was.

However, most Czechs are still opposed to the radar project, public opinion polls have shown.

Henry Obering, head of the U.S. Missile Defence Agency (MDA), visited the Czech Republic in April. He said the planned radar would protect the Czech Republic and should be a part of NATO's missile defence system.

Earlier this summer, U.S. Republican Congressman Trent Franks visited the Czech Republic, and a three-member delegation from the Congress, led by Ellen Tauscher (Democrats), held negotiations in Prague last week.

Tauscher said the U.S. Democrats and the Republicans agree that anti-missile systems are necessary.

The Czech centre-right government has launched negotiations with the USA about the radar in the spring. The Czech negotiators say the talks have progressed though the two countries' military experts have not yet reached consensus on all points in SOFA, the bilateral agreement defining the radar base's legal framework.

Negotiations about SOFA and another radar-related agreement are expected to last several more months. To take effect, the agreements require consent from the Czech parliament and the president.

Author: ČTK