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Polish PM cautious on US missiles Czech-Polish caution on US shield
(about 10 hours later)
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk is to hold talks with Czech leaders in Prague shortly on a controversial US missile defence project. Poland and the Czech Republic say they are in no hurry to conclude negotiations on a controversial US missile defence project.
On Wednesday, Mr Tusk said Poland would only agree to provide a base for US interceptor missiles if this increased the security of Poles. "It is not a race against time. The essential thing is to get what we want from the negotiations," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Poland's new government is much more cautious than its predecessor on the issue, a BBC correspondent says. He has said Poland will only agree to provide a base for US interceptor missiles if it boosts Polish security.
Russia says the project will upset the military balance in Europe. He discussed the missile project with Czech leaders in Prague on Thursday.
Hard bargaining He said both countries would co-ordinate their negotiations with Washington.
The US wants to install interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic. Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek echoed his caution, saying "we prefer quality to speed".
Washington says the system will offer protection from attack by what it calls rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea.
How defence system worksHow defence system works
The US wants to install interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic, to protect against possible attack by what it calls rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea.
The Czech government aims to submit a draft accord on the radar base to parliament in April, Mr Topolanek said.
But he added that his government had not set any firm deadline for completing the negotiations.
Hard bargaining
Russia says the project will upset the military balance in Europe.
It has threatened to point missiles at Europe if the US stations parts of the new missile shield near its borders.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak went to Poland on Thursday to discuss the defence shield.
Poland's new government is much more cautious than its predecessor on the issue, a BBC correspondent says.
"Our agreement to a missile defence installation in Poland is going to be directly tied to... increasing Poland's security," Mr Tusk said on Wednesday, quoted by the Associated Press."Our agreement to a missile defence installation in Poland is going to be directly tied to... increasing Poland's security," Mr Tusk said on Wednesday, quoted by the Associated Press.
He will meet both Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.
Poland now wants US military hardware and a bilateral security agreement before it agrees to host the base, the BBC's Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.Poland now wants US military hardware and a bilateral security agreement before it agrees to host the base, the BBC's Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.
It is also wary of striking a deal ahead of the US presidential elections later this year.It is also wary of striking a deal ahead of the US presidential elections later this year.
Mr Tusk is concerned a new administration in Washington may abandon the missile defence plans.Mr Tusk is concerned a new administration in Washington may abandon the missile defence plans.
Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich is to discuss the issue with his US counterpart Robert Gates in Washington later this month.Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich is to discuss the issue with his US counterpart Robert Gates in Washington later this month.
Poland is now ready to hear Russia's arguments against the missile shield. A Russian foreign ministry delegation is expected in Warsaw for talks on Thursday. The BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague says there is heavy opposition to the plans in the Czech parliament and a recent survey of public opinion there found 70% of people opposed to the defence shield.
Russia has threatened to point missiles at Europe if the US stations parts of the new missile shield near its borders.