Czech Mayors welcome international support

October 20, 2007

86 Czech mayors, over 120 delegates from 16 European countries and hundreds of local citizens opposed the planned U.S. radar on Czech soil during an international conference in Breznice, Central Bohemia of the Czech Republic.  Both the Mayor of Hiroshima and the Mayor of London  send a special message of support to the Conference.
 
The conference took place in the Czech countryside near the site for the planned U.S. radar facility.  The Czech government continues to support the US plans despite the fact that 70% of the public is opposed to the radar base.

For the entire day several hundred people assembled to hear speakers and participate in workshops.  A recently formed Czech League of Mayors opposes the radar after many of the local towns overwhelmingly passed referendums against the radar.  Mr. Josef Rihak, Mayor of Pribram, Mr. Josef Hala, Mayor of Jince and Mr. Jan Neoral, the Mayor of Trokavec all held passionate speeches against deployment of foreign troops in the Czech Republic against the will of the majority of the citizens. 

A video from Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima and President of the Mayors for Peace was shown outlining his support for the event.  Also Ken Livingstone, mayor of London, send a message of support to his Czech colleagues.

Following the conference, which got extensive positive media coverage in the Czech Republic, the opponents to the radar base are planning a 10-day bus trip around the country to 20 cities and towns to take the energy and message from the event directly to the people.