MOSCOW, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Russia intends to deploy countermeasures if Poland deploys NATO or U.S. missile defense systems on its territory, a report from Moscow said.
Interfax reported Oct. 3 that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin made the comments in advance of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's imminent visit to Poland.
Kamynin told Interfax: "We continue to treat these plans critically. Our opinion is that (this concept), along with the possible deployment of NATO's European missile defense system, can produce a negative effect on strategic stability, security in the region and relations between the states. A new situation like this one will objectively require us to take appropriate measures because we cannot rely in such matters solely on statements that the missile defense systems of the U.S. and NATO in Europe 'are not aimed' against Russia."
Addressing Russian-Polish relations including energy concerns Kamynin said: "In this context, we see joint work to draw up a positive agenda in all of the key areas of Russian-Polish relations as the main goal of the upcoming visit. Agreements will also be reached on a mechanism for taking specific steps in the short-term and for removing the political and psychological barriers standing in its way. The idea is to avoid narrowing the discussion of energy issues to disagreements alone. We want our Polish partners to think jointly with us about how energy could be made a key aspect of our cooperation in the future and we are prepared to share our ideas on this issue."
