Polish, Czech leaders likely to accept US missiles

WARSAW, Feb 19 (Reuters) Poland and the Czech Republic are likely to accept a US offer to host parts of a global anti-missile defence system on their territories, the prime ministers of the two European countries said today.

''We have agreed that our response to the (US) offer will most likely be positive,'' Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said at a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

The United States has asked the two central European countries to host part of its multi-billion dollar defence system designed to counter missiles fired by what Washington calls ''rogue states''.

Poland would host a battery of up to 10 ground-based ballistic rockets while the neighbouring Czech Republic would be the site for an advanced radar system capable of tracking missiles.

The plan to place the shield in two former Soviet satellites has angered Russia, which said it would distort the post-Cold War balance of power in Europe.

Trying to prevent the move, Moscow has threatened to install medium-range ballistic missiles in a region neighbouring Poland.

Germany has also criticised the United States for failing to inform Russia and neighbouring countries of details of the plan beforehand.

Kaczynski and Topolanek both dismissed the criticism.

''Saying that the US did not consult with Russia is very naive,'' Topolanek said.

Kaczynski added: ''The missile shield is not aimed against any 'normal' country. Saying it is aimed to change the military balance of power is a total misunderstanding.'' In a joint article published earlier by daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita today, Kaczynski and Topolanek defended their stance saying it would provide protection for all NATO members and not just the United States.

''Joining the missile defence system will serve as passive protection from attacks ... for all members of the transatlantic community,'' they said.

Warsaw and Prague, both allies of the United States since the fall of communism in 1989, say the shield would tie Washington's interest to the region and therefore provide security.

REUTERS AKJ RN1821