US President George W. Bush and his Polish counterpart Lech
Kaczynski said Friday in Poland's northern port of Gdansk that the
planned US anti-missile system is not against Russia.
Bush told reporters after the meeting with Kaczynski that the
U.S. anti-missile system would "raise the security of Poland and
the entire continent" and would not endanger Russia.
"We want to cooperate with Russia in this field," Bush
added.
Kaczynski said the missile defense system is a plan that fosters
stability and defense and such defense is needed to stave off
"irresponsible actions."
There are no aggressive intentions involved in this defense
system, the Polish president added.
"No U.S. and Polish plans are directed against the interests of
Russia which can feel completely secure," Polish PAP news agency
quoted Kaczynski as saying.
On Jan. 20, the United States proposed installing parts of its
anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move
strongly opposed by Russia, which warned that the project could
trigger a new arms race.
The Russian president changed his tune at the G8 summit in
Heiligendamm. Putin proposed that the United States and Russia work
together to set up the defensive system, but suggested that it
should be based at a Russian radar base in Azerbaijan instead of in
central Europe.
Putin on Friday suggested Turkey or Iraq as possible sites for
the interceptor missiles -- not Poland.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2007)
