POLAND:POLAND HAS dealt a blow to the Bush administration by rejecting its request to station part of a missile defence system on Polish territory, writes Derek Scallyin Berlin
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said yesterday that any future talks could only take place on the basis of a better deal from Washington. "The installation of the missile shield in Poland increases above all the security of the United States. That's important for us, for the whole world," he said. "However, the fact that the installation would be built on Polish territory also increases certain risks and threats for Poland."
After months of on-off negotiations, Polish and US officials held intense talks in recent days, concluding with a 40-minute telephone call between Mr Tusk and US vice-president Dick Cheney on Thursday night.
Mr Tusk stressed that talks were "not ended, suspended or interrupted" and that the US "is and will continue to be our strategic ally".
Nevertheless the announcement is a setback to President Bush who had hoped to have agreement on the defence system before leaving office.
Last year, Washington proposed the two-part missile system, comprising an anti-ballistic missile shield in northern Poland and a tracking radar facility in the neighbouring Czech Republic.
Prague is already on board and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice will head to the Czech Republic next week to sign the deal.
The Tusk administration has been less enthusiastic, unsure of whether it can expect a better deal from the Bush administration or its successor. The deal breaker appears to have been Warsaw's insistence that the US install short-range missiles to counter what Poland sees as an increased threat as host of the system.
Although anxious not to close the door, Mr Tusk's announcement is significant as the first rebuff to Washington from post-communist Poland.
Poland's last prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, was a close ally of Washington and fervent supporter of the plan, as was his brother, President Lech Kaczynski.
They argued that not accepting the base would amount to a capitulation to Russian influence over Polish national security.
Yesterday's announcement will only heighten foreign policy tensions between President Kaczynski and his political rival, Donald Tusk.
The president bypassed Mr Tusk last week when he sent his chief of staff, Anna Fotyga, to Washington for last-ditch talks.
Mr Tusk's position is likely to attract popular support: polls show a majority of people concerned that stationing 10 missiles near the northern Polish city of Slupsk would compromise national security.
Washington has to decide now whether to make an improved offer to Warsaw or to look elsewhere.
US officials have considered Lithuania as an alternative site, but analysts suggest this could be difficult because of Lithuania's proximity to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
Moscow has attacked the plans and has said it will train its missiles on the new facility.