Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland

Prime Minister Calls U.S. Offer on Missile Shield 'Unsatisfactory'

 

"We appreciate the issue and want to participate in the global security system - including the security of the United States - but I'm primarily responsible for the security of Poland and Poland's citizens … This can't be done by crossing our fingers behind our backs and pretending that there is security, when in reality it isn't there."

 

-- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

 

"It's been nineteen years since the fall of communism, and Russia still dictates what happens in Poland."

 

-- Opposition MP Przemysław Gosiewski

 

By Bartosz Węglarczyk and Paweł Wroński

 

Translated By Halszka Czarnocka

 

July 4, 2008

 

Poland - Gazeta Wyborcza - Original Article (Polish)

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski: He and Prime Minister Tusk are playing high-stakes poker, demanding cash for military modernization and Patriot missile batteries for Warsaw. He and Tusk say they aren't satisfied that Washington has shown enough concern for Poland's security.

 

BBC's HARD TALK: Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski talks of Russia and why Poland is considering hosting the shield at all, Apr. 29, 00:05:55RealVideo

Too little - is how Prime Minister Donald Tusk summed up the latest American offer for installing an anti-missile shield in Poland. During yesterday’s press conference [July 3], Tusk stressed that the key element in assessing the U.S. proposal was and remains improving Poland's national security.

 

"We appreciate the issue and want to participate in the global security system - including the security of the United States - but I'm primarily responsible for the security of Poland and Poland's citizens," the Prime Minister said.

 

He reminded those present that Poland sees the United States as its most important ally and friend, and that we didn’t refuse assistance to the Americans with their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. In his opinion, however, the anti-missile shield has greater implications since it concerns Polish territory. That is why he has concluded that the American offer is "unsatisfactory."

 

During the press conference, Tusk said he would agree to accept the shield after obtaining "permanent security guarantees" that account for our geographic location [vicinity to Russia] and tragic historical experiences [reference to World War II, when Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany from the West and Soviet Russia from the East]. The second condition is, "anti-aircraft defenses that aren't temporary - but permanent." What's it all about?

 

According to our sources, the latest American proposals that were negotiated in Washington by Deputy Secretary of State Witold Waszczykowski, included the possibility of moving a squadron of Patriot missile batteries to Polish territory from Germany. But the installation would proceed in a back-and-forth manner:


The missile batteries (probably one of three Patriot batteries) would arrive in Poland every quarter [three months] - for a month. Then they would return to Germany for the remaining 2 months. This pattern would be guaranteed for a year. At some point afterwards, the missile batteries could be ceded to Poland.

 

Our government disagreed with this arrangement; it wants the Patriots on a permanent basis and preferably under Polish control - rather than in the hands of American units stationed temporarily in Poland. "This can't be done by crossing our fingers behind our backs and pretending that there is security, when in reality it isn't there," Tusk said.

 

RUSSIAN REPORT ON POLAND'S REJECTION OF U.S. SHIELD OFFER

 

 

The second important issue is the "political declaration." The Polish Government wants a clear declaration: America will militarily come to the aid of Poland in case of any threat. American diplomats are of the opinion that as a member of NATO, Poland already has such a guarantee. Nevertheless - according to our sources - the U.S. is ready to provide this additional assurance of the Alliance’s guarantee.

 

Also yesterday, the Prime Minister unexpectedly said that Poland isn't so concerned about American financial aid for modernizing our army. The U.S. Defense Department considers Polish demands excessive - and is willing to increase the aid by only $20 million per year, as promised earlier.

 

President Lech Kaczyński was clearly vexed by the government’s position. Since early morning various ministers have been summoned to the Presidential Palace. First, the ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, along with Deputy Secretary of State and the negotiator of the deal, Witold Waszczykowki, met with Presidential chief of staff Anna Fotyga. In the afternoon, Defense Minister Radosław Sikorski met with the President alone. "The President has a different point of view. He favors a quick agreement," Foreign Minister Sikorski told reporters.

 

The [opposition] Law and Justice Party [PiS] immediately went on the attack with the "Russian argument." 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

"It's been nineteen years since the fall of communism, and Russia still dictates what happens in Poland," said former Deputy Prime Minister Przemysław Gosiewski. Meanwhile, Representative Karol Karski, himself a former under secretary of Foreign Affairs, demanded that the details of Tusk’s secret talks with Moscow be disclosed.

 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: The Polish opposition accuses him of making a back-door deal with Russia, after he declared the latest U.S. proposal for missile shield 'unsatisfactory.'

 

The Prime Minister said that the negotiations aren't yet completed and that he's ready at any point to take into account a new offer or an adjustment in the U.S. proposal. But he isn't inclined to hurry. "This is a serious matter, so we are not going to count the hours."

 

The Department of State unofficially expressed its disappointment, but said it remains open to further talks.

 

But this time the talks won't be carried by negotiators, our sources say. Decisions will hence be taken at the political level. The Prime Minister and Defense Minister will deal directly with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

 

"If a new proposal is put on the table, the matter could be resolved by July 10 when Ms. Rice comes to Europe," one of the Polish diplomats told us.

 

But the U.S. Embassy, which on Wednesday was still preparing to receive Condoleezza Rice in Warsaw, has now stopped making preparations.

 

CLICK HERE FOR POLISH VERSION

 

SEE ALSO:

 

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Americans Must Show More
Concern for Polish Security

 

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Prime Minister Calls
U.S. Offer on Missile
Shield 'Unsatisfactory'

 

Ceske Noviny, Czech Republic
Russia Warns Czechs
Over Stationing U.S.
Anti-Missile Shield ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 6, 7:06pm]