U.S., Poland to deploy defense system, despite Russian anger
Washington, 20 August (IranVNC)—The United States and Poland signed a deal today agreeing to deploy part of the missile defense system that the U.S. is setting up on Polish territory, despite Russia’s protests that the system is a threat to its security.
By: IranVNC
Published: Wednesday, August 20, 2008
12:26GMT—8:26AM/EST
US – POLAND – RUSSIA – MISSILE DEFENSE
Washington, 20 August (IranVNC)—The United States and Poland signed a deal today agreeing to deploy part of the missile defense system that the U.S. is setting up on Polish territory, despite Russia’s protests that the system is a threat to its security.
“This will help us to deal with the new threats of the 21st century, of long range missile threats from countries like Iran or from North Korea,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before signing the accord with the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, reports AFP.
As tensions continue escalating between NATO and Moscow over the Russian invasion of Georgia, Russia has accused the U.S. and Poland of aiming the missile defense system at its borders as a way to isolate it further and shift power among European countries.
Washington and Warsaw have repeatedly denied this accusation.
“It is defensive, it is not aimed at anyone,” added Secretary Rice. “It is nonetheless a system that establishes firmly again, and reaffirms, our cooperation and relationship with Poland. It will deepen our defense cooperation and deepen our ability to deal with threats.”
Russia has said it finds the timing of the deal to be further proof that the defense system is aimed at them, and has warned Poland against becoming the host country, saying that Poland is making itself a “100 percent” target, AFP reports.
“We will be forced to respond to this adequately. The EU and U.S. have been warned,” said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last month as the US-Poland talks were moving closer to an agreement.
Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski remained stalwart in his support of the deal despite Russia’s thinly-veiled threats.
“Nobody can dictate what Poland will do. Those times are over,” said Kaczynski in an address to the nation, broadcast on Polish television, referring to Poland’s time as a Soviet satellite until 1989, reports the Warsaw Voice.
The agreement between Poland and the U.S., which will base 10 interceptor missiles in Poland, plus a radar facility in the Czech Republic, and was approved by all NATO members earlier this year, has sped the signing of a similar agreement between Russia and Belarus.
Russian News and Information Agency quoted a Russian presidential aide saying that the deal would be signed this fall on creating a unified air defense system between the two countries.
In response to the increasing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, Washington denies that a new Cold War is imminent.
"I don't think this is a new Cold War,” Secretary Rice told a news conference after she signed the deal in Warsaw. "The Cold War is over," she said, according to AFP.
The US-Poland missile defense system is expected to be completed between 2011-2013.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, The Warsaw Voice, Russian News and Information Agency
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