Poland`s new leader makes first visit to Washington :: Charter'97 :: News

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski to the State Department on Wednesday, praising his country as a “fierce fighter in the defense of freedom.” Appearing with Rice at a brief photo session before a luncheon meeting, Kaczynski said the goals of both countries can be summed up in one word: “freedom.”

During their meeting, they were expected to discuss the possibility of Poland serving as a hub for a U.S. missile defense project.

In an appearance at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Polish Defense Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said there have been “exploratory, low-level, technical consultations” between Warsaw and Washington on the Pentagon`s interest in possibly establishing a missile defense site in Poland. But he said there was no substantial progress on this topic during the prime minister`s current visit.

“But if we are asked to host such a base, of course we will answer in the spirit of alliance solidarity,” he said, adding that in such a case, Poland would probably want additional security support from Washington.

“I need to prove to the Polish people and to parliament – because such a base could not happen without a bill in (parliament) – that as a result Poland`s security would increase,” Sikorski said. “As you know there are concerns over that.” Some argue, he said, that “such a base would be a target, it would be a target of nuclear strikes or terrorist threats or increased penetration by foreign intelligence services. In other words, there would be down sides, and I would need to go before parliament and say why, overall, it`s a good package.”

The U.S. missile defense site in Poland or elsewhere in Europe would expand the range of countries that the United States could, in theory, defend against long-range missile strikes. It also would provide a defense of U.S. territory against long-range missiles fired from the Middle East. The current U.S. missile defense bases – in Alaska and California – cannot protect all of the United States against a missile from the Mideast.

According to a schedule released before Kaczynski`s arrival, he was to meet with President Bush at midafternoon, but White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said there was no such meeting on Bush`s schedule.

She said a meeting was planned with Vice President Dick Cheney. “If the president were to drop by, we would let you know,” she added.

The visit is Kaczynski`s first since becoming prime minister in July.

The administration has been grateful for Poland`s troop presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, around 900 Polish soldiers currently command a multinational division south of Baghdad. Poland also has about 100 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of the NATO force.

The United States has been examining the feasibility of setting up a missile defense capability in Europe for several years, and discussions have been held with Poland and the Czech Republic about hosting them. Potential sites in both countries have been visited for a small number of long-range interceptor missiles and radar.

At present, no missile defense sites have been installed outside U.S. territory. The goal would be to protect Europe against possible attack by intercontinental-range missiles.

Kaczynski aide Leszek Jesien said no final decision on the issue is expected during the prime minister`s visit.

Government spokesman Jan Dziedziczak said the agenda also includes talks on the situation in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, Poland`s eastern neighbors.

Kaczynski plans to meet with business leaders and representatives of the Polish and Jewish communities. He also will attend a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday marking the handover of the first of Poland`s 48 new F-16 fighter jets.

ASSOCIATED PRESS