US and Poland sign defence pact

Russia views the plan to station US anti-missile shield in Poland as a threat to its own nuclear deterrent [AP]

Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/07/2010731815728252.html


Poland and the US have signed a deal for a future US anti-missile shield to be stationed in Poland, despite Russian objections.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, witnessed the signing of the pact in the Polish city of Krakow, which purportedly is aimed at defending Europe against potential threats from Iran and elsewhere.

"The United States is deeply committed to Poland's security and sovereignty," Clinton said at a joint news conference with Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, on Saturday.

"Today, by signing an amendment to the ballistic missile defence agreement, we are reinforcing this commitment."

Barack Obama, the US president, decided last year to scrap a plan by George Bush, his predecessor, to deploy a longer-range missile-defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, opting instead to use smaller sea and land-based missile interceptors.

While there were reports last year that Poland was unhappy with Obama's decision to abandon the Bush plan, Sikorski said Poland preferred the new approach.

"When President Obama announced the new configuration of the system, we did say that we liked the new configuration better but I think you didn't believe us," he said.

"I hope now that we have signed the annex, I hope you do believe us."

Russian objections

Clinton sought to counter Russian objections to the plan, which it views as a danger to its own nuclear deterrent.

"This is not directed at Russia. It is a defensive system to protect our friends and allies and our deployed forces," she said.

"The real threats come from the development of short and medium-term missiles on a faster timetable from Iran."

Clinton refused to specify a date as to when the new defence project may be deployed on Polish soil, but defence experts have said it is likely to be ready in 2018.

The two countries also announced plans to co-operate on the exploitation of shale gas.

Clinton began her day by laying a wreath at a memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the April 10 air crash in Russia that killed 96 people, including Poland's president and its military commanders and central bank governor.

She was to end her visit to Krakow by giving a speech at the Community of Democracies, a 10-year-old inter-governmental group that aims to promote democracy and civil liberties.