Kerry – Russia did not influence scrapping part of missile defence plan

photo - wikicommons

Following President Barack Obama announcing that the US will scrap plans to place SM-3 IIB missile interceptors in Poland, as part of a larger missile defence shield in Europe, John Kerry told journalists on Monday that the decision was not taken after Russia’s objections to the plan.

“The United States of America has made zero – zero concessions to Russia with respect to missile defense,” Kerry said after talks with Poland’s foreign minister.

“There was no discussion with Russia whatsoever about the decision that was made with respect to phase four. There was no discussion with Russia in order to avoid any potential of an accusation of a deal or some agreement or some concession. There was no discussion,” he emphasized.

Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said that, “we are delighted that at last there is a small but capable U.S. presence in Poland, and U.S. F-16s and Polish F-16s are training together. We also will welcome the missile defense site, and all the practical arrangements already being made”.

On the recent vote at a Senate committee on an immigration bill which could finally include Poland in the US visa waiver programme, Kerry said that “President Obama supports the Visa Waiver Program. I support the Visa Waiver personally for Poland. The Administration as a whole is supportive of the language in the legislation on the Hill right now. We hope that legislation will be passed, and we expect that Poland will benefit from the implementation of the Visa Waiver Program.”

“Thank you for your words about the Visa Waiver Program,” Sikorski added.

“It’s become a symbolic but also a practical issue, and I will be delighted if President Obama’s promise to us to fix it by the end of his tenure is fulfilled.” (pg)