"Russia isn't a rogue state" - Bush calms fears over missile shield

Jun 1, 2007, 6:43 GMT

Warsaw - US President George W Bush has insisted that Russia should in no way feel threatened by a US plan to install an anti- ballistic missile shield in nearby NATO partner and EU member Poland.

'We want the shield to defend free and democratic states against rogue states,' Bush told the Friday edition of Poland's liberal Gazeta Wyborcza daily. 'Russia isn't a rogue state so, it has nothing to worry about.'

The comment comes ahead of Bush's arrival in Poland on June 8 for talks with President Lech Kaczynski regarding the stationing of the European portion of an anti-ballistic missile shield aimed at neutralizing terror attacks.

Bush also indicated that bilateral economic relations would figure high on the agenda of talks with Kaczynski at the Polish President's swish and reclusive Baltic Sea-side residence in Jurata.

'I think the best solution for the future are close relations between Poland and the United States,' Bush told the Gazeta daily.

'Developing economic cooperation, capital investment and above all creating new jobs, as was the case with the agreement to buy our F-16 jets - That's what I'll be talking about with your president,' Bush said.

Last week US Assistant Secretary of State John Rood began talks on the deployment of the missile shield in Poland.

   The US plans to deploy 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic.