国际英语新闻：U.S. missile center may operate on Czech soil in 2011: minister

PRAGUE, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The early warning center of U.S. missile defense may start operating on Czech soil by the middle of next year, Czech Defense Minister Alexander Vondra said here on Sunday.

The building of such communication center is now being discussed by the Czech and U.S. government experts and the facility would gather the information from satellite sensors to uncover flying missiles, Vondra said.

The planned center should become a part of NATO missile defense, but be operated by Czech soldiers trained by U.S. experts, Vondra added.

No active elements of U.S. anti-rocket system in Czech Republic are being negotiated, Czech sources said.

Last September, U.S. President Barack Obama scrapped the plans to build a U.S. radar base in hills near Prague and interceptor missiles in Poland.

The new plan will not need to be approved by the parliament, Czech government politicians say. Some left-wing politicians and peace activist already announced they would oppose this new plan.

The United States are expected to pay 2 million U.S. dollars for the construction of the center in next two years. Czech Republic will cover part of the annual costs, according to Vondra.