US, Poland Open Talks on Missile Shield

14 May 2007 -- Poland and the United States have opened formal talks on a controversial U.S. plan to place part of a U.S. missile defense system on Polish soil.

A U.S. State Department senior advisor, Robert Loftis, met Monday in Warsaw with Polish defense officials.

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U.S. embassy spokesman Andrew Schilling characterized the meeting as a good beginning, with an exchange of ideas about how negotiations should move forward.

Another round of higher level talks is set for next week involving senior U.S. envoy John Rood, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security.

Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has voiced support for the deployment of 10 U.S. missile interceptors in Poland and guidance technology in the Czech Republic.

Washington has repeatedly said the missile system is aimed at protecting the United States and its allies from missile attacks from Iran.

Russia strongly opposes the plan, saying the missile shield would threaten Russian security.

Source: VOA News