CSSD against pondered reinforcing Czech contingent in Afghanistan

The legitimacy of the Afghan government is becoming uncertain, Zaoralek told journalists after a meeting of the CSSD broad leadership.

"We categorically disagree with those pondering further reinforcing [Czech] troops in Afghanistan and we call for a dialogue to be conducted with the allies about the further strategy," Zaoralek said on behalf of the CSSD.

This is the CSSD's reaction to Czech Defence Minister Martin Bartak's recent trip to the U.S. where he reportedly mentioned a possible reinforcement by the Czechs of their military contingent in Afghanistan.

The CSSD points out that the legitimacy of the Afghan government is fading away. The originally planned second round of presidential elections will not take place.

The Czech soldiers are present in Afghanistan in order to support the incumbent government. The question is what they will be building there now, Zaoralek said.

That is why the CSSD does not consider it fortunate for the Czech parliament to start approving a medium-term outlook of Czech military missions abroad for the two to three years to follow, as has been proposed by the Defence Ministry.

At present the parliament approves the plan of missions annually for the next year.

The CSSD voiced objections to the number of Czech troops operating in Afghanistan already late last year when it blocked the approval of the plan of missions for 2009. The lower house could approve it only this February after the cabinet adjusted it to partly comply with the CSSD's demands.

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz