U.S. abandonment of missile shield ends illusion in Poland: FM

WARSAW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. decision not to deploy missile shield installations in the Czech Republic and Poland, announced Sept.17, marked the end of "certain illusions and unrealistic" expectations harbored by some Polish political circles, Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said here Saturday.

They had hoped for "Poland to become a kind of Israel in strategic terms," i.e. an ally so close to the U.S. that, regardless of possible bad relations between Poland and its neighbors, the mighty U.S. would always come to the rescue in case of any problems, Sikorski said in an interview with local TV network TVN-24.

"This decision and the way it was announced should make everybody in Poland aware of the fact that for the U.S. Poland is just a regional ally," the minister said, adding only the whole Europe can be a strategic partner for the U.S..

"Today we should stake on European integration and modernization of Poland," Sikorski went on.

The minister confirmed that while giving up plans to install missile shield in Poland, the United States reiterated it wanted to deploy a Patriot anti-missile garrison and U.S. military personnel in Poland. "The result for Poland's defense is positive, on condition the U.S. delivers on its promises," he added.

Sikorski conceded that the U.S. "has a credibility problem in Poland and should resolve it by taking concrete actions." "Our influence on the U.S. is limited, we argue and persuade, but Poland is in no position to force the superpower to act against its convictions," the minister said.

Sikorski made the statement after Washington announced on Thursday that it abandoned plans for a large missile defense shield in eastern Europe.

Under the Polish-U.S. accord signed last year, 10 ground base interceptors are to be installed in Redzikowo, northern Poland, part of a larger system that would include a radar system in the Czech Republic, to counter Tehran's emerging long-range-missile.

The U.S. plan has angered Russia, which deems it a serious threat to its national security.