WUI (Writing under the influence)

President George W. Bush met with Polish President Lech Kaczynski in the seaside resort of Jurata on Friday to discuss U.S. plans to place missile interceptors in Poland as part of broader missile-defense shield.

Bush travelled to Poland from Germany, where he had attended the summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations.

Before the meeting, Kaczynski was non-committal regarding the missile system, maintaining that negotiations with the U.S. would determine if Poland agreed to the system. Following the meeting, both presidents said they were on the same page. Kaczynski said, "I can tell you that as far as the missile defense system is concerned, the two parties fully agree."

Russia has been opposed to the U.S. plan and threatened to retaliate if missiles are situated in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed that the U.S. and Russia should work together to set up the defensive system, but suggested that it should be based at a Russian radar base in Azerbaijan instead of in central Europe. He also suggested Turkey or Iraq as possible sites for the interceptor missiles, but not Poland.

President Kaczynski at a press conference following his meeting with Bush countered Russian concerns saying the system would be targeted at Iran and would have "no aggressive" element and would protect Europe.

"The Russian Federation can feel totally safe," Kaczynski said, with Bush at his side.

posted by Polish Immigrant  # 6:35 PM