(16 Jul 2007)
1. US President George W. Bush and Polish President Lech Kaczynski sitting together
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, U.S. President:
"And finally, we talked about how we can enhance the mutual security issues. And there's no better symbol of our desire to work for peace and security than working on a missile defence system, a missile defence system that would provide a security for Europe from single or dual-launch regimes that may emanate from parts of the world where leaders don't particularly care for our way of life and or are in the process of trying to develop serious weapons of mass destruction."
3. Wide of Bush and Kaczynski standing up and shaking hands
STORYLINE:
US President George W. Bush and Polish President Lech Kaczynski on Monday defended plans for a missile defence shield that is fiercely opposed by Russia.
At a White House meeting between the pair, Bush called the missile defence plan a "symbol of our desire to work for peace and security."
Bush said it would protect Europe from threats that "may emanate from parts of the world where leaders don't particularly care for our way of life and or are in the process of trying to develop serious weapons of mass destruction."
The U.S. wants to place ten interceptors in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of the shield.
Washington says the planned system would protect most of the continent from long-range missile strikes from Iran or rogue regimes.
Russia has voiced outrage at the plans and warned it could spark a new arms race.
Russian officials have also threatened to retarget its missiles towards Europe to counter the proposed missile defence installations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said on Saturday his country would suspend its compliance with the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty after 150 days.
On Monday Kaczynski sought to reassure Russia that the programme is not aimed at undercutting Moscow, but was ''aimed at the defence of our democracies against the countries who might have or already do have nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction.''
In their talks, Bush thanked Kaczynski for Poland's help in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Poland has 900 troops in Iraq and is still deciding whether to bring its soldiers home from Iraq by year's end, as planned.
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