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Excerpts from the JRL E-Mail Community :: Founded and Edited by David Johnson
#39 - JRL 2008-26 - JRL Home
Polish PM: No 'Definitive Decision' Made On Missile Defenses

WARSAW. Feb 6 (Interfax) - "There is not yet any definitive decision" on U.S. plans to deploy missile defense elements in Poland, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in an exclusive interview with Interfax ahead of a visit to Russia.

Asked whether Russia and Poland would have more consultations on U.S. missile defense plans, Tusk said: "Undoubtedly, the consultations have begun. It is not a fact that they are over. Any more than Polish- American negotiations are. They are awaiting their completion."

Tusk said that the missile defense issue would be on the agenda of a visit he plans to Washington.

"It would be good if politicians and the media made assessments that were as unemotional as possible because, in any event, Polish- Russian relations must take account of the fact that Poland is a member of the European Union and NATO and of relations between Poland and the U.S. as allies," the premier said.

At the same time, "I want my goal of improving Polish-Russian ties to be taken seriously," he said.

"We don't want this project (deployment of U.S. missile elements in Poland) to arouse in our neighbors any negative emotions or apprehensions," Tusk said.

"For this reason, we have been making efforts to ensure that it is not only Poland and the U.S. that hold negotiations on this subject - because that is self-evident - but also that there are negotiations with other countries. Because one needs to build an atmosphere of confidence for decision-making in individual cases," he said.

"It is very much in my personal interest that a Polish-American agreement on this issue should cause no doubts or emotions on the part of third countries," Tusk said.

However, Poland's consultations with Russia "will not mean (Poland) is going back on (its) own, independent strategy of behavior, they should make clear to interested parties, including Russia, that Poland has no intention of threatening any neighboring state," he said.

"Russia is one of the few states in the world that shouldn't fear other countries," he added.