Tweet
Czech, Polish Premiers Would Support
Hosting Proposed U.S. Missile Shield
Associated Press
February 19, 2007 8:15 a.m.
WARSAW, Poland -- Poland and Czech Republic are in favor of hosting a proposed U.S. missile-defense system, the Czech premier said Monday after meeting with his Polish counterpart.
"We agreed that both countries will probably give a positive response to the U.S. letter, and only then will we open negotiations," Mirek Topolanek said after talks with Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski. "I think it is in our joint interest to negotiate this initiative and to build ... the missile defense," he said.
The U.S. said last month that it wanted to install a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, to guard the eastern U.S. and Europe from missiles launched from "rogue nations" in the Middle East.
It would be the first such site in Europe.
Two other bases -- at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California -- would confront possible threats from rogue nations elsewhere.
Mr. Kaczynski said last week he supported the U.S. proposal to build missile interceptors in Poland and an accompanying radar site in the Czech Republic.
The U.S. plans have drawn the ire of Russia, which says such a missile defense could disturb the balance of power in the region and fuel a new arms race.
On Monday, Mr. Kaczynski brushed aside the Kremlin's fears, saying "the missile defense is not directed against any normal state." "Any statement suggesting that the missile defense would change the alignment of forces in Europe is a misunderstanding," he said.
Hosting Proposed U.S. Missile Shield
Associated Press
February 19, 2007 8:15 a.m.
WARSAW, Poland -- Poland and Czech Republic are in favor of hosting a proposed U.S. missile-defense system, the Czech premier said Monday after meeting with his Polish counterpart.
"We agreed that both countries will probably give a positive response to the U.S. letter, and only then will we open negotiations," Mirek Topolanek said after talks with Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski. "I think it is in our joint interest to negotiate this initiative and to build ... the missile defense," he said.
The U.S. said last month that it wanted to install a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, to guard the eastern U.S. and Europe from missiles launched from "rogue nations" in the Middle East.
It would be the first such site in Europe.
Two other bases -- at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California -- would confront possible threats from rogue nations elsewhere.
Mr. Kaczynski said last week he supported the U.S. proposal to build missile interceptors in Poland and an accompanying radar site in the Czech Republic.
The U.S. plans have drawn the ire of Russia, which says such a missile defense could disturb the balance of power in the region and fuel a new arms race.
On Monday, Mr. Kaczynski brushed aside the Kremlin's fears, saying "the missile defense is not directed against any normal state." "Any statement suggesting that the missile defense would change the alignment of forces in Europe is a misunderstanding," he said.
this is kind of creepy.
Comment