The exceptions refer to the criminal acts committed by Americans while on duty and their criminal acts against the security and property of the USA or any other U.S.
personnel at the base.The SOFA treaty was approved by the Czech government earlier today.It will be signed by Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates during the informal meeting of NATO defence ministers in London on September 19.The treaty determines that all U.S. personnel will be equipped with special IDs issued by the Czech authorities.As far as the two exceptions are concerned, the Czech side Czech Foreign Minister to receive his Kosovo counterpart ...
Rice says Czechs might travel to USA visa-free by year end ...
Police initiate charges against Czech-Afghan chamber head ... has the right to ask the Americans to give up the right of priority jurisdiction.The treaty regulates the prosecution of U.S. citizens in absentia and cooperation of the two countries in the collection and transfer of evidence, the conditions of imprisonment, etc.The Czech Republic will be responsible for external security of the base, the USA for internal, Parkanova said.The U.S. military bodies can operate outside the radar base for the sake of renewal or maintenance of discipline of their personnel, but only with the consent and under the control of the relevant Czech bodies, the treaty said.There were lengthy talks on the treaty with taxes on U.S. suppliers the stumbling block.The two sides eventually reached a compromise. The tax exemption will only apply in a limited fashion to the U.S. firms and their employees who pay a similar tax in the USA.Other suppliers and their staff will be subjected to the Czech legislation, the government said on its webpage today.Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and his U.S. counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, signed the main bilateral treaty on the radar in July.The radar to be built at the Brdy military district, some 90km southwest of Prague, and a base for ten interceptor missiles in Poland are elements of the U.S. missile defence shield to protect the United States and Europe against missiles that states like Iran might launch.Both treaties are yet to be passed by the parliament and signed by President Vaclav Klaus.Besides, the U.S. armed forces are to use Czech suppliers if they are able to outbid the U.S. competition.Americans will recruit Czech employees and the treaty includes their right to strike.
(Ceske Noviny)
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