Poland tells Biden it is ready for new missile shield (1st Lead)

Oct 21, 2009, 13:02 GMT

   Warsaw - Poland is ready to participate in a new US missile shield project that is 'interesting (and) necessary,' Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden that Poles hoped would clarify the Obama administration's new proposal.

   'I want to underline with full force that this concept, that this project popularly called SM-3 ... is regarded by Poland as very interesting (and) necessary,' Tusk said after a two-hour meeting with Biden in Warsaw. 'And we're ready to participate on a scale that's appropriate.'

Poles had hoped that Biden's visit would serve to mend relations between the two countries, which became strained after US President Barack Obama announced in September the abandonment of a previous missile shield to be hosted in Poland and the Czech Republic.

In comments Wednesday, the US vice president offered Poles reassurances about US commitment to their country. He called Poland one of the US's 'closest allies' and thanked the country for its 'great sacrifice' in Afghanistan.

The former senator said he was happy that Poland wanted to participate in the new defence system, which the US says will protect Europe from an Iranian attack.

In an interview with the daily Rzeczpospolita published Wednesday, Biden underlined US support for Poland, saying that there would be 'Nothing about you without you.' He said that Washington would strike no deals with Moscow at Poland's expense.

   Biden told the paper that the new missile shield was more effective, versatile and included more advanced technology.

   Obama's decision to opt for a more advanced system for meeting short- and medium-range threats was welcomed by Russia, which viewed the long-range system as a threat to its nuclear deterrent. But Polish officials were more critical, noting that the decision to abandon the earlier plan was announced on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland in World War II.

Improved US-Russian relations will improve Europe's security, Biden told Rzeczpospolita, noting their cooperation in reducing their nuclear arsenals, stabilizing Afghanistan and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Biden on Wednesday laid a wreath at the monument to the heroes of the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising. His visit to Warsaw was set to include meetings with Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Polish soldiers who served in Afghanistan.

   Biden was set to travel to Romania for discussions on Thursday, then to Prague for meetings on Friday.