Raising Poland's security "was and will remain" to be the key postulate forwarded during negotiations with the US on the anti-missile shield, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.
"The US is Poland's key ally and when such was a need, Poland did not refuse help, such was the case in Iraq and Afghanistan," Tusk said, but he stressed that in case of the shield, the matter is more serious as it concerns the territory of Poland.
The US State Department officials said Wednesday that the US and Poland reached a "tentative agreement" in Washington on the deployment of a US missile defense shield in Poland.
However, Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said Thursday that the negotiations have not ended yet despite a few significant questions have been cleared during talks with the US.
Polish news agency PAP quoted Tusk as telling a news conference that he understands that the US side is especially keen to reach a quick agreement, "but this is not a race." "These are very important talks about security."
Tusk said Poland is waiting for a reply of the US side to Poland's postulates regarding the strengthening of the country's security.
The United States plans to install a base for 10 interceptor missiles in northern Poland. Talks opened at the start of last year but later became bogged down over Polish demands for more military aid.
Poland wants the US to participate in the modernization of the Polish army, especially its air defense by introducing Patriot3 or THAAD air defense systems.
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.
(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2008)
