http://www2.polskieradio.pl/eo/dokument.aspx?iid=67816

Coalition parties to pursue consistent anti-missile shield policy

30.06.2007
In an interview for Polish Radio One this morning Defence Minister Aleksander Szczygło said that the ruling coalition parties will pursue a consistent policy on plans to build a part of the US anti-missile base in Poland.

Minister Szczygło admitted that there are differences between the coalition members. However, he pointed out that under the new coalition agreement they will be dealt with within the coalition in its leaders talks and not emphasised in statements for the mass media.

A joint stand on defence policy is one of the elements of an amendment to the coalition agreement signed on Friday by the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and its minor partners: the League of Polish Families (LPR) and the Self-defence party.

When asked about Polish soldiers in Afghanistan, who refused to serve in badly armoured combat vehicles, The Minister said it was a mistake made right at the beginning of the mission.

Poland should not have asked the Americans for equipment, because exactly this led to the problem of Hummer military vehicles’ faulty armour, he explained.

According to Aleksander Szczygło, the Polish army should have bought combat vehicles and then there would not be any problems with armour.

Recently a group of Polish soldiers applied for dismissal from service in the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan on account of the fact that, in their opinion, military vehicles were poorly equipped. (jm)