Poland is to hold talks with Russia over the latter's opposition to a U.S. missile shield planned for Central Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Friday.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak will come to Poland in January to present Russia's arguments against the installation of anti-missile shield in Poland, Sikorski told the Polish Radio Three.
Poland's new liberal government wants to "better understand" Russia's arguments against the U.S. plan, Sikorski told the radio.
"It is never reprehensible to hear arguments of a neighbor," he said, but stressed that this did not place Poland under an obligation to anything.
The United States says its planned new bases -- 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic -- are to counter missile attacks from "rogue" states such as Iran.
However, Russia says the shield would weaken its nuclear deterrent, and it would take counter measures if the U.S. plans in Europe went ahead.
Poland's new government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in its first declaration in November announced talks to be held over the shield with Russia and NATO.
The previous nationalist-conservative government of former Polish Premier Jaroslaw Kaczynski refused to listen to Moscow's objections, insisting Poland -- an EU and NATO member -- had the sovereign right to engage in negotiations with Washington on the project.
Recent opinion polls show more than half of Poles oppose U.S. plans to install missile shield on Polish soil by 2012.
Source: Xinhua
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