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Bush, Kaczynski reassure Russia on US missile shield plans
AFP
GDANSK, Poland
Petroleumworld.com 06 11 07President George W. Bush called Friday for greater cooperation on defence issues with Moscow, and again stressed that Russia would not be the target of missiles it wants to install in Poland as part of its defence shield.
"This (missile defence system) is not pointed at Russia," Bush told reporters after two hours of talks with his Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski at the presidential retreat in the Baltic seaside resort of Jurata.
"Indeed, we would welcome Russian cooperation in missile defence. We think it would make sense," he added.
Bush was speaking before leaving Poland for Italy, the fourth leg on a six-nation tour of Europe that has already taken in the Czech Republic and the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany.
Washington has launched talks with Warsaw to site 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as part of an extended defence shield against airborne attacks.
Russia has objected to the US plan and threatened to retaliate if missiles are sited in Poland and a powerful tracking radar in the neighbouring Czech Republic.
It does not accept Washington's argument that the system is purely defensive and meant to target attempts from what it calls "rogue states" such as Iran.
As recently as Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "If the US nuclear potential extends across the European territory, we will get new targets in Europe."
Putin also offered Bush the joint use of a Russian radar base in Azerbaijan as an alternative to plans for a US missile shield in central Europe.
And in a press conference held after the end of the summit, Putin suggested Turkey or Iraq as possible sites for the interceptor missiles rather than Poland.
In Poland, Bush did not comment on whether the US would act on the Russian proposals.
Kaczynski said Russia needed to try to "understand that the world has changed in the past 18 years."
"These changes have also affected Poland," he added.
"But no projects that we have undertaken are aimed against Russia. The missile shield is entirely defensive."
Relations between Poland and Russia have been tense because of recent trade rows between the two countries.
In contrast, Poland has close ties with the US and is a key ally in the war against terrorism.
Its troops are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which the Polish people earned words of praise from Bush, who was visiting the central European country for the third time.
"Poland is a great advocate of liberty in the world today," Bush said.
"Poland is involved in two very difficult theatres, Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently in Afghanistan there was a call for more NATO help, and the Polish government stepped up quickly," Bush said.
After the talks, Kaczynski would not say if Poland would agree to housing US missiles.
Kaczynski said the talks at Jurata were just an "introduction to the dialogue we will have in mid-July" when he is due to visit Washington.
At those talks, the Polish president said, "we will reach concrete results."
Bush left Poland for Italy on board the US presidential aircraft, Air Force One, shortly before 9:00 pm (1900 GMT).
In Italy, the US leader will meet Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and have an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.
AFP 08 2024 GMT 06 07
Copyright© 2007 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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