US Missile Defence Shield: Poland/Czech Rep. Cautious
Both the Czech Republic and Poland have asserted that they are in no rush to wrap up negotiations over their involvement in the US Missile Defence Shield programme. "It is not a race against time", Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. "The essential thing is to get what we want from the negotiations."
Prime Minister Tusk has confirmed that Poland's agreement in hosting part of the Shield will only come if, simultaneously, Polish security is strengthened.
The Missile Defence Shield was a topic of discussion between Tusk and his Czech counterpart, Mirek Topolanek, in the Czech capital, Prague, on the 10th January 2008.
Mr Topolanek mirrored the thrust of Tusk's message, stating: "we prefer quality to speed".
Radar for Czech Rep and Missiles for Poland Under US Shield Plans
The Czech Republic and Poland, within the US plans, would host a radar facility and interceptor missiles respectively. The measures are designed to counter the perceived/ potential threat of "rogue states" including North Korea and Iran.
According to the Czech PM, the government there hopes to provide parliament with an initial accord on the radar site in April. He added, however, that no fixed deadline for the negotiations finalisation had been set.
Throughout much of 2007, Russia highlighted its deep concerns over the US Missile Defence Shield. The measure, it has said, will destabilise Europe's military foundations.
Sergei Kislyak, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, travelled to Poland on the 10th January for talks on the topic.
Poland Looking for Security if Missile Shield Installed
Going back to Poland, the Associated Press quoted Mr Tusk as having said: "Our agreement to a missile defence installation in Poland is going to be directly tied to... increasing Poland's security."
According to one source, this effectively means a desire for the Polish armed forces to be equipped with US-manufactured hardware, alongside an agreement based on bilateral security.
Furthermore, Poland is also wary of forging an alliance in advance of the upcoming US Presidential elections, fearing that, under a new regime, the US' viewpoint on the necessity of the Shield could alter. Such an issue will be discussed between Bodgan Klich and Robert Gates - the Polish and US Defence Minister/Secretary respectively.
Source - Armed Forces International's East European Correspondent
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