WARSAW (AP) – The National Security Council said it would convene Tuesday to evaluate the U.S. proposal to build part of a missile defense system in Poland and discuss whether NATO should be involved in considering the plan.
The U.S. would like to establish missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic and has been talking with those countries directly about how to proceed.
The plans have upset Russia, however, which says the system could provoke a new arms race.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, has suggested that the U.S. should also include other allies by holding discussions through NATO.
President Lech Kaczynski has said he would consider Merkel’s request, but also said Saturday that, “I won’t deny that I feel these are bilateral issues between Poland the United States.”
The National Security Council said in a statement that Kaczynski had called for the 12-member group to convene Tuesday to talk over Merkel’s proposal, and that it would release a written statement following the session.
The council consists of Kaczynski and his twin brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, parliament speakers and key government ministers.
The council is an advisory body. The final decision on whether to host the base will rest with parliament, which is expected to vote only after months of negotiations between Warsaw and Washington.
