Missile Defense Plans in Europe

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well, the so called "tarcza" [TR: "shield"] is obviously… Missile Defense is a hot topic in Poland, and it's suddenly become a topic in Europe. So we had good consultations about that. I'm not a missile defense negotiator, but I wanted to come here and listen to Polish concerns and talk about the general climate and what the United States can do to help.

QUESTION: That's the thing, that there seem to be more and more concerns about the plan of missile defense and its European component. Did you bring anything to offer to Poland? A lot of people say that the MD part should be accompanied by some extra security guarantees, including increased air defense.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: We should separate the real issues from the politics as best we can. And start our negotiations with common understanding, and I think people in Poland need to have a good understanding of what this is about.

First of all, this is about defending Europe. The United States can defend itself without any installations in Poland. We can defend ourselves just fine against threats from the Middle East. However, it does us no good if Poland, or if Europe and NATO is in the "drugiej kagtegori obrony" - (speaking in Polish: There is none, and there will be no second class category of allies.) That does us no good whatsoever.

So in order to defend Europe, for technical reasons, we determined it was best to have a modest installation in Poland, with radars in the Czech Republic. That allows us to defend almost all of NATO. And that's certainly in our interest. So this is first of all about defending Europe, not about defending the United States.

Second point. This is not about a problem with Russia. This system is not going to degrade Russia's missile capability. And the Russians know this. They know this and this is "punkt trzeci," [TR: point 3] because we have had extensive consultations with the Russians at very senior levels, over a very long period of time. We've invited them to one of our missile defense installations in Alaska. our head of our missile defense agency has been to Russia and will go again.

So the Russians know this is not directed against them. Punkt trzeci.

We also are discussing this in NATO and with our European friends more generally. We've had extensive consultations with NATO. And we will continue to do so. This is not a NATO system, but it's very good if it's compatible with NATO. After all, defense is certainly NATO's business, NATO has every right to ask about this, to know about this, and since NATO itself is thinking about missile defense, whatever we do in Poland should be compatible with the NATO system.

So we should start with these basic facts and then have some serious discussions about Polish concerns, including the ones you mentioned.

QUESTION: Is America ready to meet those expectations on the part of a lot of politicians -- including Patriot air defense system -- or will it be very difficult for Poland to get something extra?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well, you start with a common understanding of what the problem is that you are trying to solve, and it's absolutely fair for Poland, and Polish military, to ask our military some serious questions about what we would call the contingent liability…(continues by rephrasing explanation in Polish: Potencjalnego zagrozenia dla Polski - the potential threat for Poland).

Now that's a very fair question, and it ought to be answered. But start with those kinds of military discussions of the threat and then you can start talking about what it needs to combat this. So you start right, and you end up right.

QUESTION: The majority of Polish, just regular citizens seem to be opposed to the idea of putting a foreign military installation on our land. Especially from the point of view of an ordinary person, Iran is not really a threat to Poland, and will not waste its still limited military resources to attack Poland…so why should we put an installation that potentially can make us an attractive target for some terrorists, let's say, as some people warn, on our territory, if we are not really directly threatened by either Iran or North Korea?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: The world is a different place than it was during the Cold War. We don't face a Soviet Union; the Soviet Union doesn't exist. But the Middle East and other parts of the world unfortunately have regimes and governments that are pursuing nuclear weapons and pursuing long range missiles, and these weapons and missiles can potentially pose a threat to Europe, not perhaps Poland in particular, but to the transatlantic security community in general. And it's a question of solidarity. Poland and Europe are part of the single security sphere, single security space. So is Europe and the United States. So on the principle of solidarity, and on the principle that security is indivisible, you have to watch out for all of our securities.

Of course, you could argue it another way, you could say that Poland might be threatened because it's part of Europe and part of NATO, and you don't want to be left naked without any opportunity of protecting yourselves. But of course, it's fair to ask a lot of these questions, and our negotiators will be prepared to discuss all of these things.

QUESTION: Do you think that popular opposition to the project might be a problem and how can you convince, what sort of concrete benefits can you point out to ordinary citizens, not only to people in government, to say: This is something you are going to benefit from - financially, or in terms of security, or in terms …How can you convince the people living in those areas -- and the society?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well, of course, Poland is a democracy, and it's important to let people know what this is about and what it's not about. And I think that work has just barely begun. This is about security for everyone. And I think one argument to Poles is that (speaking in Polish: There will not be a second class category of allies).. If the US is going to be secure, but Europe isn't secure, then that's not good enough…we all have to be secure.

Secondly, with respect to the particular locations where these might be placed, well, it's obvious there will be benefits to local contractors because there will be some construction, and there will be quite a bit of material benefit. But the fact is, Poland will benefit because it's now part of a security community beyond itself.

Polska samotna (TR: solitary Poland) had a rough 20^th century. And it was hard on Poland because you were alone. You need not just paper promises. You need to be part of an alliance which is active. You need to have a relationship with the United States which is concrete and solid. You need to be active in the world, working with your allies. Now, THAT Poland is already doing. And our discussions will build on this good foundation.

QUESTION: Some people say, including our former defense minister in a commentary in the Washington Post, Mr. Sikorski, that the United States is in a way pushing missile defense on Poland, by putting a proposed answer in an offer to negotiate.. I'm afraid it's an impression that people may get.. are you really pretty confident that Poland will say yes if you attach a projected answer….

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: No, no, no, this is a complete misunderstanding. I'm familiar with Radek Sikorski's article. Look, the negotiations haven't even begun. All Poland has done is say that it is interested in principle in a discussion. We would not dream of actually asking Poland to sign a blank check; that's ridiculous. Poland would never do that. The Polish government has made very clear that it will look out for Polish interests -- as it should; that's it's job. I expect Poland to ask some tough questions. I expect that we will have to answer all these concerns. So let's have an honest discussion. I think it's unfortunate that the issue in some western European countries has been politicized. I think the debate in Poland should develop in a rational way based on the reality, not on any imagined pressures, and from the US there won't be pressures.

QUESTION: Are you ready for a solution that might not be good for the United States? Are you ready for Poland to say no, even if the government agrees to have a missile defense component on Polish territory, the Sejm [TR: Polish parliament] may reject the agreement?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well sure, Poland is a democracy, it's a sovereign country. Poland will make its own decisions based on Polish national interests.. So, the idea that the U.S. will yell, or stamp its foot, or demand something is absurd. We're allies and we're going to have discussions, and Poland will make its decisions; that's the way it must be, that's the way it will be.

I do regret that some countries in western Europe react to some of the accusations Russia has made, which are simply false. And that's a problem. Of course, the Russians have often said things about Poland, and I remember the debate about NATO expansion, and it turned out all right, so I'm confident the debate will turn out all right this time too.

QUESTION: Speaking about Russia, which has astonishingly opposed the MD from the very beginning, saying the Russian authorities were informed, but recently they hinted they would like to be consulted also in that matter. Are you ready to consult with the Russians?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: They were in fact consulted. We don't give Russia a veto over what we do with Poland. I'm sure Poland appreciates that. But we have consulted with Russia. And it is quite fair that the Russians would like to be consulted. I just wish they would recognize that they have been, and there is a very long list of senior consultations between the Americans and the Russians about this. And we'll continue to talk to them …but we won't give them a veto.

QUESTION: Are you surprised with Russian opposition, but also, as you mentioned, with NATO opposition? Germany wants to have this as part of NATO air defense, missile defense component; France says it is not necessary at all in Europe. Are you surprised at the emotion this causes?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well I wouldn't say there's opposition from NATO; the NATO secretary general in an interview that appeared yesterday in a British newspaper was quite positive. And he said that missile defense is perfectly normal and understandable.

There is a part of the German political class which seems to have accepted some of Russia's arguments, which I find unfortunate. But I think, that rational arguments will generally win out; it's also true that a number of west European countries have their own missile defense systems. The Germans are interested themselves in missile defense-- not the sort of long-range system that we are planning.

But there are systems in western Europe. So I fail to see how they can argue that a system in Poland is bad, but a system in the Netherlands is somehow good.

The fact is, let's be realistic, we all face a problem from unstable or irresponsible regimes that could potentially threaten us with nuclear weapons. We need to find solutions to do that that are feasible, practical and not destabilizing with respect to Russia.
That's a discussion that needs to happen, not a discussion that recalls the NATO enlargement debate of ten years ago, or the Pershing II debate of 20 years ago. As for Russia, Russia often expresses concerns about things having to do with Poland - they didn't like Poland's entry into NATO, but we have to look at our own interests, and we have to consult with the Russians and be completely transparent and open with them.

QUESTION: When exactly will the negotiations with Poland start? Have you talked about any dates with the Prime Minister, or Defense Minister or Foreign Minister?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well, I'm not here as a negotiator, and I don't know the exact date.
I do believe that General Obering, the head of our Missile Defense Agency, will come back to Poland in the middle of April; he will then go to NATO for a discussion there, and a discussion at the NATO Russia Council as well.

This is not going to take place however in a couple of weeks. There's not going to be some huge high tension negotiating session and in 48 hours it's wrapped up; this will take, I suspect, quite a number of months. It will involve several rounds of expert discussions. There's a lot of work to do. This is not anything that is going to be forced on Poland overnight. No one's going to wake up and find out that some deal has been done. This will take time - and it should.

QUESTION: In your conversations in Poland, did you hear something that was unexpected or that caused you concern?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Concern? Certainly not. I found the Poles with whom I met were asking serious questions, expressing their desire to work with us; they are very clearly going to negotiate on the basis of Polish national interests, as they should. And I'm quite satisfied that we can work through these issues.

QUESTION: Some people say, a lot of Poles have this feeling that started with the war in Iraq -- we're talking right after the 4^th anniversary of war in Iraq -- that Poland is giving to the United States a lot…troops in Iraq, now the first 100 soldiers are leaving for Afghanistan, and that we're not getting enough in return. The visa problem…. that comes up always in these discussions. Do you think it's a fair assessment on the Polish side that we are not given enough in return for our engagement?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: Well, I would put it this way: Poland and the United States have done a lot together and for a common objective. I'm proud of America's support for Polish sovereignty during the Communist period. I'm proud that we supported Solidarity. And I'm proud that we helped Poland into NATO.

Poland's NATO membership means that Poland will never, ever have to face enemies alone. And what that means is what the Rzeczpozpolita [TR: Polish Republic] builds for its people, this time, it gets to keep. No one can take away what Poles build for themselves and their children. Now that's something that America has offered Poland, and it was in our common interest, because we learned that if Poland is not secure then America will not be secure. I'm proud that we helped Poland and that we have come this far together.

Now I'm deeply grateful - and I think the people of Afghanistan and Iraq understand the sacrifices Poland and Polish soldiers are making for them. It's not easy in Iraq. This mission is harder and longer than we Americans had anticipated; we are impressed that Poland has shown itself to be an ally and not a fair weather ally.

In Afghanistan things are much easier. We are making progress. We're supporting a government which has the support of its people; we are working to help not just in a military sense, but on the civilian side as well. And Poland is part of that common effort.

In the world we have to do things for each other. Our security can not be maintained if we act alone. That's true for America, that's true for Poland. And our commitment -- America's commitment -- to Poland's security is strong and we appreciate Poland' staunchness.

Now, you mentioned visas. Let me tell you that we did listen to Poland -- Polish people, Polish politicians, had all told us, For God's sakes, you Americans have got to do something. Last November President Bush said when he was in Tallinn and repeated in Riga, that we must open up the visa waiver program to our best friends in Europe. That of course means Poland. We are working with the Congress on legislation which will, among other things, open up the visa waiver program to Poland. We hope this legislation passes this year. It will not be easy. But we have the support of a couple of senators, Senator Voinovich and Senator Mikulski. Senator Mikulski is well known to Poland as a great friend and champion. Senator Voinovich is a wonderful friend of all of the countries in this part of the world. They, with other senators, had actually passed a bill, had gotten a bill attached to some legislation, in the Senate which does this. Now it will be a rough road, but we've made a good start and we're determined to see this done.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. I think a lot of Polish people hope to see this done.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: So do I! Believe me!

QUESTION: And I hope you will be back to Poland - I guess you don't mind coming here.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: I love it…(in Polish: I feel at home here….) I'm never here for long enough.

QUESTION: I hope you'll have a chance to stay for longer at some point.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED: (in Polish: I hope so…. Thank you very much.)