(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-28 14:40

WASHINGTON  -- The United States and the Czech Republic failed to reach an agreement on the deployment of anti-missile radars in the eastern European country.

After a meeting with US President George W. Bush, the visiting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said the failure was due to environmental reasons.

"We want the strictest possible standards to be applied in terms of ensuring and guaranteeing environmental protection," Topolanek told media, adding that he expected the issue to be resolved soon so that the two sides can return to negotiations.

Bush said resolution of the remaining differences with the Czechs would not be far off and an agreement is close.

Aside from the Czech Republic, the United States is also in talks with Poland on the deployment of missile interceptors, also part of the planned US anti-missile system in eastern Europe.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to meet Bush at the White House next month on the issue, local media reported.