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Poland signs missile shield deal with U.S.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- The United States and Poland on
Wednesday signed a formal agreement to base U.S. ballistic
missiles on Polish soil, a move that has angered Russia and
stoked regional tensions over the territorial conflict in Georgia.
Signing the deal with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed it as a breakthrough in
international cooperation but stressed the missiles would only be
used for defense. "It will help both the (NATO) alliance and Poland
and the United States respond to the coming threats," Rice said
Wednesday signed a formal agreement to base U.S. ballistic
missiles on Polish soil, a move that has angered Russia and
stoked regional tensions over the territorial conflict in Georgia.
Signing the deal with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed it as a breakthrough in
international cooperation but stressed the missiles would only be
used for defense. "It will help both the (NATO) alliance and Poland
and the United States respond to the coming threats," Rice said
after the signing. "Missile defense, of course, is aimed at no one. It is in our defense that we do this."
Moscow says the missile-defense system is aimed at blunting Russia's nuclear deterrent. It has warned
the deal could open Poland up to attack.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country has been pushing for the missile-defense system to
be placed in Poland, said it strengthens the two countries' strategic partnership and will bring long term
benefits to their security.
The agreement will put a ground-based ballistic missile defense interceptor facility with 10 interceptor
missiles in Poland close to the Russian border, according to the declaration. The United States will begin
deploying the Patriot air and missile defense system next year, with a garrison to support it by 2012.
The countries will negotiate a separate agreement for the status of U.S. forces in Poland to support the
system, the declaration says. The United States will also provide training to Poland and provide real-time
information about missiles tracked by the radar, which will be located in the Czech Republic.
Tusk said the Patriot battery and U.S. installation are a "practical and measurable element of this
breakthrough" agreement.
"Missile defenses, including an interceptor base in Poland, provide a necessary and critical capability
that can be used to defend both nations and other NATO allies from long-range missile threats" launched
from the Middle East, the declaration says.
The system will be linked to other missile defense facilities in Europe and the United States, the
declaration says.
Without referring to Russia, the declaration notes that the U.S.-Poland relationship is governed by the
NATO charter "which provides that an armed attack against one NATO country shall be considered an
armed attack against them all."
The United States will help Poland modernize its armed forces as part of the deal, thus making Poland a
stronger NATO partner. The two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation on political-military issues,
information-sharing and defense technology research and development.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski said the deal is strategically necessary for Poland and for Europe.
While it pushed for the system, Poland had made some demands of the United States and that had
stalled negotiations in recent months. The pace of the talks accelerated, however, after Russia invaded
Georgia nearly two weeks ago, and the countries quickly ironed out their differences
"The negotiations have sometimes been tough but they have never been unfriendly," said Rice. "They
have sometimes been difficult but they have always been purposeful."
Moscow says the missile-defense system is aimed at blunting Russia's nuclear deterrent. It has warned
the deal could open Poland up to attack.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country has been pushing for the missile-defense system to
be placed in Poland, said it strengthens the two countries' strategic partnership and will bring long term
benefits to their security.
The agreement will put a ground-based ballistic missile defense interceptor facility with 10 interceptor
missiles in Poland close to the Russian border, according to the declaration. The United States will begin
deploying the Patriot air and missile defense system next year, with a garrison to support it by 2012.
The countries will negotiate a separate agreement for the status of U.S. forces in Poland to support the
system, the declaration says. The United States will also provide training to Poland and provide real-time
information about missiles tracked by the radar, which will be located in the Czech Republic.
Tusk said the Patriot battery and U.S. installation are a "practical and measurable element of this
breakthrough" agreement.
"Missile defenses, including an interceptor base in Poland, provide a necessary and critical capability
that can be used to defend both nations and other NATO allies from long-range missile threats" launched
from the Middle East, the declaration says.
The system will be linked to other missile defense facilities in Europe and the United States, the
declaration says.
Without referring to Russia, the declaration notes that the U.S.-Poland relationship is governed by the
NATO charter "which provides that an armed attack against one NATO country shall be considered an
armed attack against them all."
The United States will help Poland modernize its armed forces as part of the deal, thus making Poland a
stronger NATO partner. The two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation on political-military issues,
information-sharing and defense technology research and development.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski said the deal is strategically necessary for Poland and for Europe.
While it pushed for the system, Poland had made some demands of the United States and that had
stalled negotiations in recent months. The pace of the talks accelerated, however, after Russia invaded
Georgia nearly two weeks ago, and the countries quickly ironed out their differences
"The negotiations have sometimes been tough but they have never been unfriendly," said Rice. "They
have sometimes been difficult but they have always been purposeful."
| ROCK COUNTY NOW DAILY NEWS: World |
