Progress on missile defense, visa-free travel expected in Czech-US meetings

The United States and the Czech Republic plan to move toward allowing a U.S. missile defense radar system on Czech soil and letting Czechs travel to the United States without visas, as Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek begins two days of meetings with U.S. officials on Tuesday.

Topolanek and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff are expected to sign a document Tuesday citing an eagerness to finish negotiations that would allow the visa-free travel.

The United States passed a law last year aimed at expanding its visa-waiver program for citizens from some countries. But the program has caused tensions in Europe because some countries would be left out. European Union officials have pledged to press the U.S. to include all EU member states.

A Homeland Security official said earlier this month after talks with Czech government ministers that the two sides had made sufficient progress to hope for a deal by the end of the year.

On Wednesday, Topolanek also plans to sign a deal on the radar system in a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.

The United States wants to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in neighboring Poland as part of a system it says is necessary to protect the U.S. and Europe against future attacks.

The Czechs have been in favor of installing a missile tracking radar southwest of Prague ever since talks began with Washington a year ago, although Poland has been more reticent in recent months after a new government took office in November.

Topolanek told The Associated Press on Monday that he could not see "any serious problems that would prevent us from completing the treaties" this week, but added that final agreement will not come until the Poles are fully satisfied with the project.

The deal would have to be ratified by the Czech parliament.

Russia fiercely opposes the prospect of U.S. military installations so close to its borders, and has threatened to target any future base in Poland with its missiles, causing deep anxiety in Warsaw. The U.S. says the missile defense system is intended to address a potential threat from nations such as Iran.