Missile deal focus of Biden's Poland visit

WARSAW, Poland, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will attempt to finalize a missile deal during an upcoming one-day visit to Poland, a U.S. embassy spokesman said.

Andrew Paul, U.S embassy spokesman in Poland, said concluding a deal with Poland regarding a new U.S. missile defense system is important to Biden, who plans to follow up next week's visit with other international destinations, Poland Radio reported Friday.

"Central Europe is a key region, it includes many key allies for the U.S. His visit will be to some of our most important allies in Central Europe. Warsaw is the first stop out of three, he will then be going to Romania followed by the Czech Republic," Paul said of Biden.

Polish Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski said Friday the United States is hoping on installing a Patriot missile battery in Poland in early 2010.

U.S. President Barack Obama canceled a plan in September that called for 10 long-range interceptor missiles to be stationed in Poland supported by a radar system in the Czech Republic.

Poland Radio said in advance of next Wednesday's visit by Biden, Komorowski reportedly confirmed that negotiations regarding the missile system are nearly finalized.