Polish president pushes for shield despite Russia

Poland, the biggest NATO member from the former communistWarsaw Pact, is in talks with the United States on stationing10 interceptor missiles on its soil as a part of the shield,despite strong opposition from Russia.

In his last annual news conference as president onThursday, Putin said Moscow could aim its missiles at countrieshosting the system. But, when asked whether the threats wouldaffect talks with Washington, Kaczynski said Warsaw shouldforge on.

"Poland should continue to seek to place parts of theshield on Polish soil. I know this is not very popular but itis crucial in terms of Poland's security," he told reporters.

According to surveys, a majority of Poland's 38 millionpeople oppose hosting the base, fearing it would add tension toalready rocky Polish-Russian ties and undermine security.

Washington says the shield is designed to protect theUnited States and its European allies from so-called "rogue"states like Iran, but Moscow says the U.S. project, to be basedin former Soviet satellite states, is a threat to its security.

Plans for the shield added to disputes over energy suppliesfrom Russia and legacies from World War Two to cause a chill inPolish-Russian relations under Warsaw's previous conservativeadministration.

But since winning an October election, Polish PrimeMinister Donald Tusk has promised to reestablish dialogue withKremlin.

In the highest-level meeting since 2004, Tusk visitedMoscow last week to seek to thaw ties and discuss number ofissues dividing Warsaw and Moscow, including the missileshield.

Tusk and Putin failed to work out a joint approach to theproject -- which also includes a radar facility in the CzechRepublic -- but agreed it was Poland's sovereign decision.

(Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Michael Winfrey)