Prague/Warsaw - With Prague due to sign a deal with the
United States later in July over the location of a controversial
radar facility in the Czech Republic, Warsaw Friday was holding out
for more in relation to the planned missile defence shield.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected as 'insufficient' the
latest US offer in exchange for locating missiles in Poland.
Addressing journalists in Warsaw, he said the US should offer
Poland 'real security guarantees,' but said he was still open to
negotiations.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and his twin brother Jaroslaw,
who leads the opposition, have both urged Tusk not to delay in
reaching a deal with the US.
Tusk has held back in his dealings with Washington as he believes
US missiles on Polish soil will increase the threat to Poland, which
is why he has asked for 'additional reassurances,' he said Friday.
The US State Department said earlier in the week Washington
remains committed to reaching a deal with Poland, but has not ruled
out alternative countries if a deal cannot be worked out.
Lithuania has been the focus of speculation and the Baltic state
has said it is open to the idea.
Since taking office in November, Tusk has increased demands on
Washington for military assistance in return for the basing of the
interceptors.
The countries have since begun negotiating a separate agreement
for military assistance that could include improvements to Poland's
air defences.
Tusk fears a possible attack from Russia, which sees the missile
defence shield in its former Warsaw Pact satellites as a provocation,
but Washington insists the shield is to prevent possible attacks from
what it calls 'rogue states,' like Iran.
Tusk said he passed on his concerns to US Vice President Dick
Cheney in a telephone conversation Thursday evening. He stressed that
the US was still Poland's closest ally.
Meanwhile, speaking on a visit to Azerbaijan Friday, Czech Foreign
Minister Karel Schwarzenberg confirmed Prague would sign the deal,
saying the US missile defence shield was important for Europe, even
if there was no immediate danger, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Czech media speculated that the deal could be signed as early as
next week when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Prague,
but the Czech parliament must still approve the plan and there is no
clear majority in favour of it.
Most Czechs have said in opinion polls that they are against the
defence shield.
Russia has suggested the Gabala radar facility in Azerbaijan as an
alternative, but Schwarzenberg rejected this during his visit to the
capital Baku, saying Gabala was too old.
USA
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