Senate approves Mali deployment

Prague, March 13 (CTK) - Czech soldiers can leave for Mali within a EU mission and guard a base in the capital of Bamako in the first stage, after the Senate followed the Chamber of Deputies and approved the deployment of up to 50 soldiers yesterday.

The costs are estimated at 135 million crowns this year and a similar amount next year.

After completing their mission in Bamako, the soldiers will join the training of Mali soldiers to fight Islamists in the south-west of the country for six months.

The mandate has been proposed for 15 months starting in April.

Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS), wo now temporarily directs the Defence Ministry, said the soldiers will not participate in fighting.

He justified Czech presence in Mali saying the country couldbecome a centre of terrorism.

Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09) said if the Czech Republic did not take part in the mission, it would go against its defence strategy and its image in the eyes of the allies would be harmed.

Sixty one senators out of 69 present supported the Mali mission while minimally 41 votes were required. Three senators were against it and five abstained from the vote.

The Czech military will also supply the Mali military with equipment that it does not need any more, such as arms and ammunition.

($1=19.656 crowns)