Treaties on the stationing of a US radar base on Czech soil could be signed in early May, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said on Czech Television (CT) on Sunday.

According to information from the Czech news agency CTK, the agreement has not yet been reached on one article concerning the environment, as guarantees of liquidation of possible environmental damage have not yet been provided.

The Czech Environment Ministry said it is important that the United States provides financial guarantees for a possible environmental damage.

Schwarzenberg said that he expects the Czech Republic's partners in NATO to comprehend at the summit in Bucharest on April 4 that participation in the US anti-missile shield will protect Europe.

He confirmed the Czech government's stand according to which Russian inspectors would have access to the planned base only with Czech consent.

According to Schwarzenberg, a special treaty would have to be signed between the Czech Republic and Russia.

He said Czech diplomats have not yet been negotiating about the exchange of inspectors of bases with Russia.

The United States plans to build a radar base in the Brdy military district, some 90 kilometers southwest of the Czech Republic's capital Prague, along with an interceptor missile base in neighboring Poland.

However, Russia has objected to the plan, saying it will threaten its national security.

Recent polls show around 70 percent of Czechs oppose the planned US radar base in their country.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2008)