Sikorski: Missile deal possible if US accepts demands (Roundup)

Europe News

Jul 7, 2008, 19:29 GMT

Washington - After meeting the top US diplomat on Monday in the US capital, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he still thought an agreement was possible on the US-proposed missile- defence system, as long as Washington accepts the Polish standpoint. Sikorski, speaking after meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said Poland had made an alternative request for Washington to supply Warsaw with US Patriot missiles in exchange for Polish permission on the missile-defence system. Sikorski, who asked for the consultation with Rice, described the half-hour meeting as 'good, constructive and productive,' according to Polish broadcast reports. The United States wants to field the missile-defence system in Eastern Europe to fend off the threat posed by Iran's growing ballistic missile capabilities. Poland has rejected as insufficient a US offer to modernize its military and air defences and has tied the issue to any decision to allow the deployment of 10 interceptor missiles on its soil. Poland wants an effective protection against possible air attacks, and sees the permanent stationing of Patriot missiles in Poland as meeting those needs. But Washington has only agreed to restricted loans of these weapons from those stationed in Germany, according to media reports in Warsaw. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday rejected as 'insufficient' the latest US offer. He told journalists in Warsaw that the US should offer Poland 'real security guarantees.' Sikorski, whose US visit ends on Wednesday, also plans to meet with the two designated presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack would not rule out the possibility negotations could be completed this week, when Rice will be in Prague to sign an agreement with the Czech Republic for hosting the system's radar. 'We didn't conclude them in time for the beginning of the secretary's travel,' he said. 'That doesn't mean we're not going to keep working on them.' Rice will also visit Bulgaria and Georgia on the trip that concludes Thursday. Sikorski congratulated Washington and Prague on their agreement, saying it was good news for NATO and therefore for Poland. Russia strongly opposes placing the US system in Europe and has threatened to target the bases. Washington has dismissed Russia's objections, saying the system is much too small to jeopardize Moscow strategic nuclear missile fleet.

View blog reactions

Latest Headlines in Europe

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

FPPJul 7th, 2008 - 20:46:36

Someone would have to explain to me why we'd do this, when we could put them on ships and not have to deal with any of this.

Report this comment

to FPPJul 7th, 2008 - 21:09:21

Because it's much easier to threaten Russia from Poland. Or from Lithuania.

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)

Latest from M&C Blogs

Second presidential debate; no 'gamechanger' ? - Global Eye on October 8, 2008 5:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Debate: did McCain do enough? - Global Eye on September 29, 2008 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBacks (1)

Should Sen. John McCain's health records be made public? - Global Eye on September 15, 2008 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (54) | TrackBacks (0)

Raindance Film Festival - Estomago - London Calling on October 8, 2008 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Raindance Film Festival : It's Hard To Be Nice - London Calling on October 8, 2008 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

London Film Festival - Dean Spanley - London Calling on October 6, 2008 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Devotee to Chinese Shrine of Sapam has face pierced - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Indian Muslims offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Europe

Sikorski: Missile deal possible if US accepts demands (Roundup)

Europe News

Latest Headlines in Europe

Talkback

Latest from M&C Blogs

Similar articles

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print