In these days some of Czech Deputies obtained the invitation from one of the biggest American armament companies Raytheon and from US Embassy for a dinner party.

PRAGUE, 17.1.2008

Most of the deputies accept this invitation with great embarrassment. Finally they turned it down, regardless of the fact that some of them, members of ČSSD, are against the radar in the Czech Republic and the others, members of ODS, support the installation of it.

This action should take place on 21. February. The organizers ensured in advance the possible participation. Seven deputies, mainly from ČSSD, obtained the invitation card.

„I do not take part in the action arranged by the firm, that is interested in this armament order, even though it is legitimate part of the persuasive action of this private subject“, proclaimed Jan Hamáček (ČSSD), chief of the foreign committee, for the newspaper Právo.

Jan Vidim (ODS), chief of the defence committee, considers this invitation as not too fortunate form to address Czech politicians. „If this company really wants to address Czech politicians, it could possibly be done in the form of letter but in no case inviting them for dinner“, proclaimed Jan Vidim for the newspaper Právo.

Raytheon Co is the biggest manufacturer of cruised missiles in the world. It produces the missiles Tomahawk and also Patriot, which should be located in Poland parallel with the radar in the Czech Republic. The representatives of the company are also participants at the seminary for Czech and American arms dealers, which ends on Thursday in Prague.

Tomáš Pojar, secretary of foreign minister, and Martin Barták, secretary of defence minister, are among the respectable guests on the invitation card. Not even Pojar is decided to accept the invitation. „I did not obtain the invitation and my participation will depend on the form of the dinner and will depend also on the fact, if I will be in the Czech Republic at that time”, proclaimed Pojar for the newspaper Právo. Pojar is one of the main mediators in the matter of the radar.


Source (Czech): Novinky.cz