Negotiations between Poland and the United States on the US proposed missile defense shield have not ended yet, but a few significant questions have been cleared, Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said on Thursday.
The statement was apparently in response to the US State Department officials, who said on Wednesday that the two countries had reached a "tentative agreement" on the deployment of a US missile defense shield in Poland.
The officials said such a deal was reached during the recent round of negotiations in Washington chaired by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski and chief US negotiator John Rood.
"The deal has not been struck yet," Klich told Radio Zet.
The comment also seemed not in line with Waszczykowski, who told the Polish news agency PAP on Wednesday that the final offer was delivered to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski for a decision.
Tusk and US Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe on Thursday held "a good meeting" about US plans to deploy an anti-missile shield in Poland, deputy press attache of the US Embassy Christopher Snipes said.
"The ambassador and the PM had a very good meeting that focused on the shield, Iraq and Afghanistan. This was a good conversation between good friends and allies," Snipes told reporters, refusing to present any details concerning the US-Polish negotiations.
The United States plans to install a base for 10 interceptor missiles in northern Poland. Talks opened at the start of last year but later became bogged down over Polish demands for more military aid.
Poland wants the United States to participate in the modernization of the Polish army, especially its air defense by introducing Patriot 3 or THAAD air defense systems.
Russia objects to the anti-missile shield plan, saying it will threaten its national security. Moscow has warned that it will target its missiles at the system if it is deployed in Poland.
(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2008)
