Visiting defense minister: We'll back Israel against Iran with all available capabilities.
By YAAKOV KATZvlasta parkanova 224.88(photo credit: IDF)
The Czech Republic favors Israel joining NATO in the face of Iran's continued race towards nuclear power, Czech Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanová told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
In Israel for a three-day visit to include talks with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Parkanová said in an exclusive interview that Iran was a "rogue state" whose nuclear program was taken "very seriously" by the government in Prague, which would be willing to support Israel, if necessary, with all its available "forces and capabilities."
On Monday, Parkanová met with Barak for an hour-and-a-half at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, where she was met by an IDF honor guard led by Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. On Sunday night, she opened an exhibition at the Israel Air Force Center in Herzliya commemorating Czechoslovakian military assistance to Israel upon the establishment of the state 60 years ago .
During her meetings at the Defense Ministry, Parkanová - who has been to Israel three times in the past - spoke with Barak about regional issues such as Iran, as well as the enhancement of defense cooperation between the countries and the possible procurement of Israeli-made defense systems. The two also shared sensitive intelligence information on a number of regional topics.
Concerning Iran, Parkanová said that the current government in Prague was in favor of Israel joining NATO. The Czech Republic is a member of NATO.
"I am in a position to speak on behalf of the current government, and not all of NATO, and we are in favor," she said, while adding that there were countries from the Western military alliance that opposed Israeli membership.
"We would need to talk about conditions for this," she said. "On the one hand, there is the assessment that Israel has a successful military, but there are also other foreign policy and diplomatic considerations."
Parkanová said that the controversial US missile defense system - the radar of which would be stationed in the Czech Republic - joined Israel's Arrow missile defense system in having the potential to deter rogue states like Iran from pursuing nuclear capabilities.
While the planned US system would not be capable of intercepting missiles fired at Israel, its deployment would, she said, send a strong to Teheran. The proposed US missile defense system calls for putting a radar base in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. US officials say the system is necessary to protect against possible attacks from Iran.
Russia opposes the US plan to build parts of its global missile defense system so close to Russian borders, saying that would undermine the Russian deterrent and could trigger a new arms race.
Parkanová said that while there was wide opposition to the deployment of the US radar station on Czech soil, the government believed that as a member of NATO it needed to ensure the security of Europe. She also said that Czech policy would not be dictated by Russia.
"When the system is operational it may devalue missile technology in additional countries and deter them from investing in this offensive capability," she said.
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