Commission Says Přerov Air Base Should Be Preserved

yesterday agreed at its final session that the air base should be preserved.

"Acting on the strength of previous negotiations, having considered all the arguments and after acquainting all the people present with the scheduled transformation of the Czech Air Force within the framework of the second stage of the reform of the Czech Republic´s armed forces, the commission recommended to the Government - with a majority of its votes - to preserve the air base in Přerov as a facility for mixed air traffic,"First Deputy Defence Minister Martin Barták, chairman of the commission, announced following its meeting yesterday.
The final say in the whole matter belongs to the Government. The Commission´s proposal will be submitted to the Government by the end of this September.
At the same time, the Interdepartmental Commission has recommended introduction of full air traffic at the Náměšť nad Oslavou air base. The Defence Ministry will be striving for a marked increase in the military technology at the base. The airfield at Náměšť still remains to be one of the perspective military garrisons, playing an important role in the system of NATO´s air defences.
The Commission, made up of representatives of the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry for Regional Development, Regional Commissioners of the Olomouc, Zlín and Vysočina Regions, mayor of the statutory town of Přerov and mayor of Náměšť nad Oslavou, was established pursuant to Government Resolution passed in November last year. The key task of the Commission was to analyze all the aspects and possibilities of keeping the Přerov airport.