U.S.-Polish talks cover antimissile shield

WARSAW, Poland, May 25 (UPI) -- U.S. and Polish officials said they are in agreement that a U.S. antimissile shield in central Europe would contribute to trans-Atlantic and European security.

Speaking after a day of U.S.-Polish talks in Warsaw on an interceptor missile base on Polish territory, John Rood, U.S. assistant secretary of state, said the two sides considered emerging threats of the proliferation of mass destruction weapons and intercontinental missiles, Polish Radio reported Friday.

At this preliminary stage of the talks, Washington and Warsaw officials are trying to resolve legal and technical issues relating to the missile base including the status of the U.S. station and its personnel.

Washington wants to station interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the neighboring Czech Republic as part of the missile defense systems that are already operational in the United States, Britain and Greenland, the radio report said.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said he hoped an agreement on the missile defense system may be concluded not earlier than the next fall.