Russia, Eastern Europe act to US missile decision

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has praised Washington's decision to scrap plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. Some residents in Poland, where the shield was to have been built, also expressed relief.

While praising Obama's decision on missile defense, Putin demanded that Washington cancel other existing restrictions on Russia dating from the Cold War era.

Vladimir Putin, Russia PM, said, "I very much hope this courageous decision will be followed up by the full cancelation of all restrictions on cooperation with Russia, including high-technology transfers to Russia, and will encourage the WTO to embrace Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan."

The restrictions Putin was talking about include restrictive laws on bilateral trade, including the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a key Cold War-era law that ties the granting of US most favored nation status to a nation's compliance with immigration freedom.

In Redzikowo, Northern Poland, where 10 US ground-based interceptors were to have been installed, reactions were mixed.

Some questioned Obama's decision. Others, however, thought differently.

Jerzy Wroniszewski, Village Administrator of Redzikowo, said, "We will be calmer now. There was anxiety before, due to this military base."

A local resident said, "It's the best news we've had this year, for me and for the Polish people."

Polish President Lech Kaczynski meanwhile said he feared that Obama's new strategy could leave Poland in what he calls a dangerous gray zone between Western Europe and the old Soviet sphere.