The Czech Republic would be making a "big mistake" if it deployed elements of a US anti-missile defence system, Russia's top military officer said Tuesday.
Russia's chief of staff, General Yury Baluyevsky, said he told the visiting deputy Czech defence minister, Martin Bartak, that Moscow would not allow the system to be deployed without some kind of counter-measure.
"I called the possible decision by the Czech leadership on deploying elements of the American missile defence on its territory a 'big mistake,' because Russia will simply be forced to take measures for its security," Baluyevsky was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
Washington wants to install a radar tracking station in the Czech Republic and missile interceptors in Poland as a shield against potential future missile attacks from smaller military powers such as Iran or North Korea.
However Russia insists that the system would threaten its own security and is campaigning for the United States to drop the plan.
Bartak was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency that "we haven't given our final word. This will not happen until negotiations on all aspects are concluded. There won't be a decision until at least the end of this year."
