Prague, Jan 6 (CTK) – The Czech Defence Ministry will buy two Audi limousines, including an armoured one, for the Military Police´s service for the protection and security of the minister and foreign delegations in the Czech Republic, daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes yesterday.
The ministry will pay over 14 million crowns for the two cars.
According to its spokesman Petr Medek, the ministry addressed three car makers that are the only ones to produce cars with the required level of ballistic resistance.
“Finally, the contract was signed with the Audi company. An A8L Security vehicle and a corresponding identical vehicle without the ballistic protection will be supplied by the end of February,” Medek told MfD.
In October, Medek said a new armoured vehicle is to replace the armoured BMW limousine from 2003 whose lifespan is close to expiry.
Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky (ANO) said the vehicle will mainly serve to transfer foreign diplomats and politicians who often set an armoured limousine as one of the conditions of their stay in the Czech Republic.
The cars of Czech diplomats in risky countries are equipped with ballistic protection as well.
On the other hand, the cars of top elected officials who are entitled to personal protection are only equipped with special communication and safety elements, without an armour.
The protected persons include the president, heads of the two houses of parliament, the prime minister and the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, justice and finance, whose safety is ensured by the police protection service.
The safety of the defence minister is secured by the Military Police.
($1=25.145 crowns)
