Czech, Swedish ministers to discuss extending Gripen lease

Prague, Sept 20 (CTK) - Swedish Defence Minister Karin Enstroem will arrive in the Czech Republic on Friday evening to discuss the possible extension of the lease contract for Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets with his Czech counterpart Alexandr Vondra, Vondra's spokesman Jan Pejsek told CTK yesterday.

This will be the first official talks between the ministers on the extended lease.

The lease contract was signed in 2004.

Enstroem will meet Vondra on Friday night in Ostrava, north Moravia, where NATO Days will start on Saturday.

According to CTK's information, Enstroem will fly back home on Saturday morning.

The current ten-year lease contract for 14 Gripens, costing about two billion crowns a year including servicing, will expire in 2014.

The government of Petr Necas has launched a debate on the future of the Czech supersonic fighter aircraft.

In February, the government decided to negotiate about an extended lease of Gripens. In July, Necas said the Swedish took an unaccommodating attitude, however.

Necas said the Czech Republic would be negotiating about an extended lease by the end of November, but an open tender for fighter jets would be prepared by then, too.

Vondra said previously the Czech military definitely has more options than to lease Gripens again.

Along with the Czech Republic, the Jas-39 Gripens are being used by Sweden, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand.

($1=19.119 crowns)