Cautious diplomacy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk last Thursday in Warsaw. This was the first visit to the EU by a high-ranking Russian official since the military offensive in Georgia.

The meeting, however, focused mainly on Polish-Russian relations over the US missile shield in northern Poland. Lavrov expressed Russia's concern about the shield being established on its doorstep.

"We cannot fail to see risks emerging as a result of US strategic forces coming close to our borders," Lavrov told reporters after meeting with Sikorski. "We are certain this system in Europe can have no other target in the long run except Russia's strategic forces," he added.

Bilateral relations between the nations cooled after the missile-shield contract was signed on August 21 and the Polish president condemned Russia for sending its soldiers into Georgia. Lavrov's visit, however, was seen as slight softening of Russia's position against Poland. Experts claim that it underscores Russia's desire to repair ties with Europe after the Kremlin found itself diplomatically isolated over the Georgia issue.

"We don't see Poland itself as a source of threat to the Russian Federation. We don't agree on everything, but we do appreciate dialog," Lavrov explained.

Polish FM Sikorski replied that Poland wanted to develop a strategic relationship with Russia. "In such tense international circumstances the fact that this visit has taken place and that we are continuing with growing trade relations between our countries is a positive factor," he told TVN 24.

Lavrov also reaffirmed Moscow's opposition to NATO expansion in Ukraine and Georgia, which Poland is advocating. Sikorski said that free, democratic countries should decide for themselves if they wanted to join NATO.

The meeting with PM Tusk was closed and no news conference followed.