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Poland, US sign anti-missile shield deal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-15 11:45

WARSAW - Polish and US negotiators signed a deal on Thursday to deploy parts of the US global missile shield in Poland after Washington improved the terms of the deal amid the Georgia crisis.

The agreement provides for deploying Patriot missiles in Poland, without specifying their number, and strengthening Polish-US military cooperation, Polish news agency PAP reported.

Related readings:   US, Poland reach 'tentative' agreement on missile defense  Obstacles remain for Poland to accept US missile shield plan  Poland in harder bargain with US on missile defense

The agreement reportedly includes a declaration of US military cooperation in case of a threat to Poland from third states.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking in a televised interview here, said that the two sides agreed to Polish proposals that the United States help augment Poland's defenses in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the European country.

Tusk said that the US met the key Polish demands "concerning the permanent presence of Patriots, missiles that will be able to effectively protect our territory."

The deal was signed by Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and US chief negotiator John Rood. It still needs to be endorsed by the Polish parliament.

The United States plans to install a base for 10 interceptor missiles in northern Poland to protect the US and Europe from possible future attacks from what it calls "rogue" states, such as Iran. Talks opened at the start of last year but have bogged down over Polish demands for more military aid.

Warsaw has been lobbying Washington to provide a THAAD or Patriot-type air defense system in exchange for a Polish green light for hosting the silos.

Russia objects the anti-missile shield plan, saying it will threaten Russian national security. Moscow has warned that it will target its missiles at the system if it is deployed in Poland.