Top US official to launch anti-missile defence meet

AFP, July, 2008

PRAGUE (AFP) — The head of the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will Tuesday inaugurate a global conference on missile defence in Prague, the US embassy said.

Henry Obering's visit will coincide with that of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is scheduled to sign an accord finalising the setting up of a radar base on Czech soil as part of a greater US missile shield.

The fifth International Conference on Missile Defence -- under the theme "Missile defence: challenges in Europe" -- will run through to Thursday and is organised by the French Aeronautic Association.

Industrial defense contractors such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing of the United States and French firms Thales and Snecma are attending.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is expected to outline his position on the anti-missile shield which has angered Russia and is the subject of ongoing negotiations between the US and ...