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U.S-Polish pact is condition for shield-minister

06 Jun 2007 07:10:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

WARSAW, June 6 (Reuters) - A bilateral political and security pact between Poland and the United States is Warsaw's main condition for hosting elements of the U.S anti-missile shield, Poland's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday. "The main condition is that this installation serves Poland's security and this will be ensured by a bilateral political and security pact with the United States," Witold Waszczykowski, who is Poland's negotiator on the project, told private radio TOKFM.

Poland expects President George W. Bush to give his opinion about such a deal during a visit on June 8.

The plan to place interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic has led to a row with Russia. President Vladimir Putin has threatened to aim Russian missiles at Europe if the U.S goes ahead with the plan. Washington says the installation is a purely defensive measure to protect Europe and the U.S against rogue regimes such as Iran or North Korea. Moscow regards the shield as a threat to its national security interests.

Poland has been a member of NATO since 1999 and the European Union since 2004.

Some Polish officials say that in the face of an identity crisis in the EU and a lack of NATO effectiveness, a stronger bilateral alliance with the U.S would provide a better source of security for the central European state.

Waszczykowski did not reveal details of such a pact.

Bush visited the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Poland's Defence Minister Aleksander Szczyglo said on Wednesday a Czech "Yes" to the shield would not have any impact on the Polish decision.

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Last updated:Wed Jun 6 07:11:34 2007