Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said Friday that he would not mind granting one or two authorized Russian officers access to the planned US radar base on Czech soil for inspection.

The reciprocal principle would have to be observed, Vondra told a forum in Prague. Access to the base, which is planned to be built in 2010, would allow Russians to see for themselves that the system is not directed against them,

However, Russia's access would be possible only after the two sides reached agreement on the issue, he said, noting that no such agreement has yet been reached.

Vondra shared the view of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who said earlier that he considered such a mutual monitoring mechanism feasible.

According to Topolanek, Russians' access to the radar would not be permanent and the inspections would require the Czech Republic's consent.

He said that Czech experts would also have the possibility to monitor some similar Russian facilities.

The United States wants to build a radar base at the Brdy military district, some 90 km southwest of Prague, and a silo for 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as part of the missile defence shield.

The Czech government started to negotiate with the United States early last year, despite sharp criticism by Russia and opposition by two thirds of Czech citizens.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2008)