Missile shield not a threat

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus says that the deployment of the United Statesmissile defense elements to neighboring Polandconstitutes no threat to the Baltic states.

"This is an integral part of the NATO defense system and we see it just this way. As the technology is advanced to the degree that it makes little difference whether such defense system will be mounted in or further from Poland, just as long as it efficiently targeted against terrorism, I believe it serves its purpose and I do not think it is a threat to the Baltic countries," Adamkus said at a press conference.

On Aug. 15, the US and Poland signed a preliminary agreement on the deployment of the missile shield elements in Poland. An analogous treaty was inked with the CzechRepublic earlier this year.

Washington plans to place 10 missile interceptors in Polandbetween 2011-2013 and build a radar station in the neighboring CzechRepublic. The facilities will support the already operational missile defense system, with elements in the United States, Greenland and Great Britain.

Washington says that the shield, development of which was supported by all 26 members of NATO, is intended to serve as protection from possible missile attacks from "villain countries," particularlyIran.

After signature of the treaty, Russian officials have made informal statements about Russia for the first time after the end of the cold war considering the possibility of deploying arms with nuclear warheads in its Baltic Fleet in the Kaliningradregion wedged between Lithuaniaand Poland.

The nuclear warheads may be supplied to the fleet's submarines, cruisers and bombers.

Russia informed Poland that a permit for US deployment of missile defense shield elements in its territory might constitute a threat of nuclear attack.

Russia has also mentioned that the nuclear missiles on its bases in Kaliningradand Belarus could be targeted at Western Europe. Russia also hinted at considering the possibility of again dispatching troops to Cuba.