Brussels, May 21st 2008 - The Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign
sends its solidarity and support to the two young Czechs, Jan Tamas and
Jan Bednar, who have been without food for 9 days in an effort to draw
attention to the imposition of a US "National Missile Defense" radar on
the Czech people.

Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign is deeply concerned that the
implementation of this project, including interceptor missile in Poland,
is increasing international tensions, generating a new arms race, and is
the further step towards the militarization and control of space. Since
more than two thirds of Czech citizens are against this project, the
2020 Vision Campaign supports the strikers call for a referendum to
decide on this important matter.

Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign is working closely with Mayor Jan
Neoral of the town of Trokavec who joined the hunger-strikers for one
day last Saturday. Mayor Jan Neoral is heading an association of Czech
Mayors against the deployment of the radar system in the Czech Republic.

Luc Dehaene, Mayor of Ypres and Chair of the international Mayors for
Peace 2020 Vision Campaign association declared: "Czech Mayors have
asked for our support and it is our duty to stand with them in their
efforts to avert growing tensions in Europe. As Mayors we are too often
confronted with the results of international power games and military
plans, with our cities the potential victims. Time has come for the
voice of cities to rise. Cities can no longer be targets for military
strategists. It is our duty to protect our cities and citizens and we
applaud these brave young people who use the non-violent path of Gandhi
to promote a democratic expression of the public will in the Czech
Republic".

Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign is a non-profit association of
Mayors which aims for a global ban of all nuclear weapons by 2020. On
May 14th 2008 the network counted 2,226 member cities in 129 countries.

More information: www.2020visioncampaign.org

*Press contacts:*

Aaron Tovish, International 2020 Vision Campaign director +43-676-325-2195
Pol Dhuyvetter, International 2020 Vision Campaign office manager
+32-495-28 02 59

*Contact hunger-strikers in Prague, Czech Republic:*

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