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http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/view-id.php4?id=20021017E04859 Czech Happenings October 17, 2002 Troops ready for NATO summit after exercise -Police estimate that between 10,000 and 12,000 people will arrive in Prague to demonstrate against NATO. -U.S. F-16 fighters, which flew from the bases in Germany and Italy started an operation against the "hijacked" passenger plane. -A very strong team has been built, Gregory Martin, the commander of the NATO airforce in Northern and Central Europe, said. STARA BOLESLAV, Central Bohemia, Oct 17 (CTK) - Czech and U.S army planes today trained the reaction to a threat of a terrorist attack, thus bracing themselves for the November summit of NATO in Prague. After the end of the training army commanders said that they were ready for the event. "Although this was just an exercise, it was unforgettable. I can hardly describe what I had in mind when a fighter behind a passenger plane full of people was waiting for an order to start fire. It is incredible," Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik said. The abduction of a Tu-154 plane by terrorists was one of the events trained by the soldiers. Another training was to simulate a situation in which a passenger plane is in distress and cannot communicate with the air control centre. The troops also trained a case when a small plane attacks the nuclear power plant in Dukovany. "We intercepted the plane on our radar devices. Two L-159s fighters flew to it and a consent was given to a warning shot. Then its pilot started cooperating and the plane landed at the airport in Ceske Budejovice, South Bohemia," Czech Airforce Deputy Commander Jiri Cuma said. U.S. F-16 fighters, which flew from the bases in Germany and Italy started an operation against the "hijacked" passenger plane. The air space over the Czech Republic was protected today by the AWACS radar system. The same situation will be during the summit. A special plane for in-flight refuelling was also used during the training. Helicopters, MiGs, the anti-missile units to guard Prague and the Dukovany nuclear power plant, chemical warfare units and other troops were also used during the training. In all the exercise was joined by 925 soldiers and 1,350 members of security bodies and other specialists. A very strong team has been built, Gregory Martin, the commander of the NATO airforce in Northern and Central Europe, said, adding that he was satisfied with the outcome of the exercise, although some things still could be improved. Tvrdik said that since the troops would be constantly on alert they would be able to react within seconds during the summit. The Prague NATO summit, which will take place on November 21- 22, will bring together leading representatives from 19 NATO member countries and 27 Partnership for Peace programme participating countries. The summit is expected to make a decision on further enlargement of the alliance by addition of up to seven countries. The summit will be the first held behind the former Iron Curtain and the first since the terrorist attacks on the USA on September 11, 2001. About 2,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists will also come to Prague. Police estimate that between 10,000 and 12,000 people will arrive in Prague to demonstrate against NATO. The NATO summit might become a target of terrorist attacks, security specialists have warned. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/view-id.php4?id=20021017E04248 Czech Happenings October 17, 2002 Security barriers to be put up just before NATO summit PRAGUE, Oct 17 (CTK) - The Prague Town Hall will close the area around the Congress Centre, the venue of the NATO summit in November, Prague Castle, the Obecni dum and adjacent areas, government commissioner for the preparations of the summit Alexander Vondra told journalists today. The security measures will start from the evening of November 19, which means shortly before the summit, and they will last until November 22. The main thoroughfare leading across Prague will be closed near the Congress Centre on November 21-22. The limitations will relate to both drivers and passers-by. Only local residents will be allowed access and cars will have to have special permits in the area in question. There will be no parking in the relevant zones. "I'd like to ask Prague residents for understanding and indulgence. The summit is the biggest event the city and the country have ever hosted," Vondra said. The biggest impact of the summit will be felt in the area around the Congress Centre. The closure will relate to the Vysehrad neighbourhood and the area delineated by the streets Na Bucance, Ciklova, Petra Rezka, Zateckych, Na bitevni plani, Stetkova, Marie Cibulkove and Na Topolce. In other neighbouring streets there will be no parking. The Town Hall is also thinking of closing the Vysehrad metro station, Vondra said. Vondra said that short-term traffic closures would be made elsewhere, too, such as near the Ruzyne airport and some hotels. Some 200 closely protected delegates -- the presidents, premiers, defence and foreign ministers -- will be moving in Prague in motorcades, he added. Shuttle coaches will be used for their aides, Vondra said. Prague Castle, where President Vaclav Havel will give a dinner for his guests, will be closed on November 19 and reopened after the morning of November 22. The police will also close the Hradcanske namesti square. There will be no parking in the zone delineated by the streets Uvoz, Keplerova, Jeleni and Marianske hradby. A special regime will be valid from November 20-22 around Obecni dum where a gala dinner for defence and foreign ministers as well as their wives will be held, Vondra said. Information on all the prepared changes will be available at the phone line 236 003 350-6 and on the web pages www.praha- mesto.cz a www.natosummit.cz, he added. The Prague NATO summit, which will take place on November 21- 22, will bring together leading representatives from 19 NATO member countries and 27 Partnership for Peace programme participating countries. The summit is expected to make a decision on further enlargement of the alliance by addition of up to seven countries. The summit will be the first held behind the former Iron Curtain and the first since the terrorist attacks on the USA on September 11, 2001. About 2,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists will also come to Prague. Police estimate that between 10,000 and 12,000 people will arrive in Prague to demonstrate against NATO. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? 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