Polish PM: Georgia Crisis Bolsters Poland's US Shield Stance
(NSI News Source Info) WARSAW August 12, 2008 - Poland's argument that it needs extra security guarantees to host a controversial U.S. missile shield has been bolstered by the Georgian crisis, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday.
On the eve of a new round of talks between Warsaw and Washington, Tusk told reporters that negotiations on the planned shield, which is vehemently opposed by Russia, appeared to be "on the right track".
"Our arguments about the need for a permanent presence of U.S. troops and missiles on Polish soil have been taken seriously by the American side," he said.
"The events in the Caucasus show clearly that such security guarantees are indispensable," he added.
"As soon as we are sure that Poland's security has been reinforced to the degree we want, we're not going to wait for hours to sign a deal," he pledged.
U.S. arms control expert John Rood was due in Warsaw Wednesday and Thursday for a new round of negotiations, the first since late July, Poland's foreign ministry said.
The U.S. wants to base 10 interceptor missiles in Poland plus a radar facility in the neighbouring Czech Republic by 2011-2013 to ward off potential attacks by what it deems "rogue" states.
The shield would complete a broader U.S. system already in place in the U.S., Greenland and the U.K.
Moscow, however, dubs it a menace to its security aimed at undermining Russia's nuclear deterrent, and has vowed a firm response if the Czechs and Poles go ahead.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Polish PM: Georgia Crisis Bolsters Poland's US Shield Stance
Polish PM: Georgia Crisis Bolsters Poland's US Shield Stance
(NSI News Source Info) WARSAW August 12, 2008 - Poland's argument that it needs extra security guarantees to host a controversial U.S. missile shield has been bolstered by the Georgian crisis, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday.
On the eve of a new round of talks between Warsaw and Washington, Tusk told reporters that negotiations on the planned shield, which is vehemently opposed by Russia, appeared to be "on the right track".
"Our arguments about the need for a permanent presence of U.S. troops and missiles on Polish soil have been taken seriously by the American side," he said.
"The events in the Caucasus show clearly that such security guarantees are indispensable," he added.
"As soon as we are sure that Poland's security has been reinforced to the degree we want, we're not going to wait for hours to sign a deal," he pledged.
U.S. arms control expert John Rood was due in Warsaw Wednesday and Thursday for a new round of negotiations, the first since late July, Poland's foreign ministry said.
The U.S. wants to base 10 interceptor missiles in Poland plus a radar facility in the neighbouring Czech Republic by 2011-2013 to ward off potential attacks by what it deems "rogue" states.
The shield would complete a broader U.S. system already in place in the U.S., Greenland and the U.K.
Moscow, however, dubs it a menace to its security aimed at undermining Russia's nuclear deterrent, and has vowed a firm response if the Czechs and Poles go ahead.
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