Poland is finalizing negotiations on installing a U.S. missile defense base in the country, Poland's Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said on Tuesday.
Speaking about Monday's talks between Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, Klich quoted Sikorski as saying that it was a "good meeting."
During Monday's talks Poland concentrated on the permanent stationing of Patriot missiles in Poland, Klich said in a radio interview.
According to the minister, Poland should be protected from all kinds of missiles, also from short and medium-range missiles. The U.S. installation would protect Poland only from long-range missiles, he noted.
"It is extremely important that Patriots be stationed in Poland," Klich said. "Poland has no functioning anti-missile system right now. We have a good air defense system that allows us to defend our territory against eventual enemy planes, but we are unfortunately defenseless against missiles."
Washington and Warsaw opened negotiations 18 months ago on placing the 10 missile interceptors in northern Poland to protect the United States and Europe from possible future attacks from Iran. Talks later became bogged down over Polish demands for more military aid.
Warsaw has been lobbying Washington to provide a THAAD or Patriot-type air defense system in exchange for a Polish green light for hosting the silos.
Russia objects the anti-missile shield plan, saying it will threaten Russian national security. Moscow has warned that it will target its missiles at the system if it is deployed in Poland.
Source:Xinhua
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