Prague, Dec 13 (CTK) - The Czech Defence Ministry Thursday published, on its website www.army.cz, the results of measurements made in October by a team of experts on the Marshall Islands from where the USA plans to transfer its missile defence radar to the Czech Republic.

The nine-member team headed by the Czech Republic's chief health inspector Michael Vit arrived at the conclusion that the radar did not harm the health of people living in its vicinity.

The experts also recommended that a study be drafted to evaluate the initial health condition of people living near the Brdy military grounds, some 90 km southwest of Prague, before the U.S. radar is to be re-located there from the Marshall Islands.

"The study should be started before the radar station is installed," the experts said.

The health monitoring study should continue even after the radar is launched. The monitoring should be done in half-a-year, one-year and five-year intervals, the experts said.

Besides, the measurement of electromagnetic radiation in the Brdy area should take place both before the location of the radar and after the station is completed, the said.

The experts' report agrees with the conclusions of a study that the Defence Ministry published in August.

The ministry's study has been challenged by some experts from the Brno University of Technology, south Moravia.

The university experts said the input data of the ministry's study, co-drafted by the military chief health inspector, were not sufficient.

Some opposition politicians have expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry's study as well.

The Czech government started the negotiations with the USA on the building of its missile defence radar base on the Brdy military grounds, some 90 km southwest of Prague, earlier this year.

The radar base together with a base for ten interceptor missiles in Poland are to protect the United States and a big part of Europe against hostile missiles that states like Iran might launch.

Washington wants to know the final decision of the Czech government early next year.

According to public opinion polls, most Czechs disagree with the planned base.

Russia strongly criticises the plans to station U.S. bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. It claims the bases would be aimed at Russia and break the strategic balance in Europe.

Another round of talks between U.S. and Czech representatives, focusing on the legal conditions for the stationing of U.S. troops in the Czech Republic is to be finished Thursday.

Tomorrow, further diplomatic talks are to be held, focusing on the main agreement, defining, for instance, the function of missile defence, the purpose of the radar station, the size of the radar base, and specifying the command and control over operations.

This story is from the Czech News Agency (ČTK). The Prague Daily Monitor and Monitor CE are not responsible for its content.