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1) 71-79% of Czechs Oppose War Against Iraq 2) With Legionaries Already Deployed In Persian Gulf And Afghanistan, Czech Government Debates The Meaning Of 'International Mandate' http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/view-id.php4?id=20030312E03732 Czech Happenings March 12, 2003 Possible attack on Iraq opposed by 71 percent of Czechs - poll -According to the CVVM, a number of Czechs supporting a possible attack on Iraq is constantly dropping. Last spring, 39 percent of people agreed with an anti-Iraq action, while last October it was supported by 28 percent. In January 24 percent of Czechs supported the operation, and in February the support dropped by two percent. PRAGUE, March 12 (CTK) - A possible attack on Iraq, which the USA and its allies plan within the continuing fight against terrorism, is disapproved by 71 percent of Czechs and supported by only 22 percent of citizens, according to a poll conducted by the CVVM polling centre and released. According to the poll, only 12 percent of respondents would support a military operation against Saddam Hussein's regime without a mandate of the U.N. Security Council, while 79 percent would not support it under these circumstances. According to the CVVM, a number of Czechs supporting a possible attack on Iraq is constantly dropping. Last spring, 39 percent of people agreed with an anti-Iraq action, while last October it was supported by 28 percent. In January 24 percent of Czechs supported the operation, and in February the support dropped by two percent. According to the CVVM analysis, a considerable opposition against the attack is tightly related to mistrust in fulfilment of the goals which were declared as motives of the action at the very beginning - to suppress terrorism in the world or at least to hinder the spread of terrorism. Only 20 percent of the respondents are convinced that the attack on Iraq will contribute to the suppression of terrorism in the world, while 69 percent do not believe in it. Czech citizens do not support a possible Czech participation in the military conflict with Iraq very much, the poll showed. An absolute majority of the poll respondents or 59 percent, agree only with the provision of a Czech field hospital. The opening of Czech airspace for flights of the allied aircraft and the deployment of a chemical warfare unit are each supported by the equal number of respondents or by 47 percent, while 44 percent agree with providing a transport aircraft and 43 percent of Czechs with the supply of material aid. In the CVVM poll, 37 percent of respondents would not mind broadcasting of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) from the Czech Republic to Iraq, while 29 percent would not mind deployment of the special forces. Stances on an anti-Iraq action are closely connected with political attitudes. The most hard-core opponents of an attack on Iraq are among the Communist Party (KSCM) voters, followed by the senior government Social Democrats (CSSD) supporters, while the voters of the senior opposition Civic Democrats (ODS) or the junior government Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) mostly support the attack, according to the CVVM poll. ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/view-id.php4?id=20030312E03892 Czech Happenings March 12, 2003 Government debates Iraq, decision not yet made PRAGUE, March 11 (CTK) - The government discussed the latest developments in the crisis surrounding Iraq today and Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda (junior government Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) informed the government of the views of superpowers and U.N. Security Council members on the situation. He also informed the government on political and diplomatic discussions that have taken place on the matter. While the United States and Great Britain want to use force to disarm Iraq, France, Russia, Germany and other countries do not agree with the attack and want to give weapons inspectors more time. The United States has hinted that if need be, it will attack Iraq alone without the help of the British. "If was a current evaluation of the situation surrounding Iraq," Jindrich Marek from the government press section told CTK, referring to the government's debate today. The most important decisions have not been made yet, he added. The Czech Republic has agreed that its anti-chemical warfare unit, currently stationed with Slovak colleagues in Kuwait, will participate in a possible Persian Gulf conflict if the war has a mandate from the international community. If the conflict does not have a mandate, it will only take part in case weapons of mass destruction are used anywhere in the region. The government must decide whether the conflict does or does not have a mandate. Svoboda leaves for a ten-day trip to several Asian countries on Thursday which will include visits to Vietnam, the Philippines and New Zealand. If the situation in the Persian Gulf intensifies, it is possible that Svoboda will return early from this trip. According to information that CTK has, the Foreign Ministry is preparing the trip as originally planned. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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