The U.S. ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe has visited Redzikowo, near Slupsk - the locality where elements of American missile defense shield are to be stationed.

Peter Gentle reports

Mr. Ashe talked to local government officials as well as to residents of the area. He visited the former airport where the base is to be built and a new hospital still under construction.

In his meeting with the local government officials, Mr. Ashe assured them that the deployment of missile defense elements will make a positive impact on the region's development. 

American bases all over the world positively influence economy, attracting investors, and new work places will be created, he said: 'First of all, the construction of the base itself will represent an economic benefit. Several hundred people will be living here and doing business here. And if you look at the history of American facilites that were located in other countries, such as Italy or Germany, I think you will see major economic benefits. Whenever we had to adjust or reduce a base, the local government officials have always been distressed, because they see a loss of jobs.'

Head of the Slupsk city council, Zdzisław Sołowin, said the meeting was too short and issues remain to be discussed: 'It's not just me, I think we all expect more involvement from the American side, in facing some challenges, for example transforming the airport.'

Magdalena Mike, sociologist of the Workshops of Sociological Analysis, is not surprised that the local community of Redzikowo expresses some fears about the location of elements of missile defense on their territory.

She advises more meetings, talks and explanations to the locals: 'Local community wasn't informed about the situation. There was no social dialogue between politicians, specialists, and local community members. On top of that, there is the anti-military fear. So, from the sociological point of view, the main idea is to talk with local community members to explain to them what it's all about.'

Locals of Redzikowo want the government to finance the construction of a motorway to Gdansk and a bypass road around Slupsk, as well as to create a special economic zone in the area. County Mayor of the Slupsk area, Sławomir Ziemianowicz, said by the end of the year, local authorities want to sign an agreement with the government on the compensation for the locals for stationing elements of the missile defense system: 'My idea is that we sign an agreement or a letter of intent with the government, where we list all those tasks, together with the institutions responsible for them, and deadlines.'

The American base in Redzikowo is to host half a thousand soldiers from the USA together with ten interceptor rocket launch sites.