(25 Feb 2009)
1. Wide of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski walking out to news briefing
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State:
"It is a great pleasure to welcome the foreign minister here. You know, Poland is one of our closest allies and our relationships between our two countries, particularly the Polish American community and the many contributions that they've made, make this an even more special partnership. So, welcome Mr. Minister."
3. SOUNDBITE: (Polish) Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish Foreign Minister:
++TRANSLATION UNAVAILABLE++
4. Sikorski and Clinton walking away
STORYLINE:
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington on Wednesday.
Clinton described Poland as one of America's "closest allies."
Transcripts of their meeting were not immediately available but it was expected that Sikorski and Clinton would discuss the plans for missile defence bases in Poland.
Last week, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the Obama administration had not yet decided whether to continue the Bush administration's plans to put bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Both the Polish and Czech governments have signed deals with the US accepting the sites, and NATO has also given its stamp of approval to the Europe-based US shield.
Russia has fiercely opposed the plan, objecting on grounds that the bases in Poland and the Czech Republic pose a strategic threat.
Many in the US believe the real problem is a Russian conviction that the bases are part of a broader effort by the US to encroach on what the Russians consider their sphere of influence, territories once were part of the Soviet Union.
Rhetoric on the missile system grew heated last year, and was made worse by US outrage over Russia's invasion of Georgia last summer.
Both the US and Russia have made overtures to ease tensions since US President Barack Obama's inauguration.
The US hopes it might work out assurances to Russia that the system is aimed at Iran and not at Moscow.
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