6/30/2006

Poland undecided on U.S. offer to build anti-missile shield: official

Polish Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Koziej said on Thursday that Poland was yet to make any decision on a U.S. offer to build an anti-missile shield in the country, the PAP news agency reported.

"I think that we do not have to accept an offer if it is not good for us. We do not have to have such a base on the Polish territory if it does not serve our security," Koziej said during a press conference on the future of transatlantic relations.

"No decision has been taken yet. The Polish state authorities have been convinced that the decision should not be taken in an emotional way because this is our strategic partner," Koziej said.

Currently, Poland is waiting for a more concrete offer and detailed information about whether or not Washington is going to take into account Poland's security needs and national interests, the official added.

"Poland must know if its security grows after the shield is installed on the Polish territory," Koziej said.

It is always risky if one associates only with one partner, even it is as attractive, big and strong as the United States, he said, adding "diversification is significant also in security."

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told PAP later that Koziej's statement did not mean Poland was going to dismiss the shield, but he also admitted that Poland had yet to decide whether to accept or reject it.

"This is a consistent position. Until there is a concrete U.S. offer, we are asking questions. So far we have held a few technical talks with the U.S. but the American side has not taken any decision yet," he said.

Source: Xinhua



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