Polish-Czech concurrence on missile shield

"Construction of the American anti-missile shield lies in the common interest of the Czech Republic and Poland," said Topolanek. The Polish government was more cautious in delivering information and announced that more would be known within a few weeks. According to a recent public poll, 55% of Poles are against the anti-missile shield, while only 28% support it. However both PMs decided that there was no sense in preparing a referendum concerning this issue. "If the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic take such a decision, the strategic missile troops of Russia will aim at these bases as well," offered Nikolai Solovtsov, head of Russia's strategic missile troops, in response. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A6) M.M.