U.S., Poland To Begin Missile-Defense Negotiations

(RFE/RL) May 22, 2007 -- The United States and Poland are expected to open formal negotiations in Warsaw on May 24 on a U.S. proposal to place part of a missile-defense system in the country.

The United States has proposed placing interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.


Today in Prague, the United States launched the second round of negotiations with the Czech Republic on the system.


Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said today that Russia has rejected all U.S. offers to participate in a proposed missile-defense system in Europe.


Vondra spoke in Berlin, where he has traveled for meetings with German officials about the missile-defense system.


Russia says the U.S. plan is a threat to Russia's national security. Washington says the system is aimed at threats from Iran and North Korea.


(AFP, Reuters)