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Russian FM ready for Warsaw talks Warsaw hosts tense Russian talks
(about 9 hours later)
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has arrived in Warsaw for talks with his Polish counterpart and the country's prime minister.Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has arrived in Warsaw for talks with his Polish counterpart and the country's prime minister.
Talks are expected to focus on the war in Georgia and Russia's opposition to the installation of the US missile defence system in central Europe.Talks are expected to focus on the war in Georgia and Russia's opposition to the installation of the US missile defence system in central Europe.
Poland and the Czech Republic agreed to host the controversial system. Russia has warned Poland and the Czech Republic that missile defence shields might become targets for the country.
Moscow says it will destabilise the continent's security and has warned it could be a target for a nuclear strike. The US insists its defence shield is not intended as a threat to Russia.
The fact that Mr Lavrov is visiting Warsaw so soon after the Polish government agreed to host the missile defence system is being seen by many commentators here as something of a breakthrough. But Moscow says it will destabilise the continent's security.
That shows how difficult relations between the two countries have been in recent years. Russia's commander of strategic missile forces, Gen Nikolai Solovtsov said on Wednesday: "I cannot exclude that if such decisions are taken by our top military-political leadership, the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic and other such objects could be chosen as designated targets for some of our inter-continental ballistic missiles".
'Revenge' Strained relations
But the current Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, believes Poland must engage with one of its largest trading partners even if it strongly opposes Russia's actions in Georgia. Despite the warning, Mr Lavrov hinted in comments published in a Polish newspaper on Thursday, that Russia would be "open to serious negotiations" on the matter.
In another divisive matter, both he and his Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, will try to persuade Mr Lavrov that the ten interceptor missiles to be based in Poland as part of the American missile defence system, will not be aimed at Russia. "If the United States and Poland are willing to guarantee that the European anti-missile base is not aimed at Russia, then we are ready to consider concrete proposals," Mr Lavrov told the Gazeta Wyborcza.
Moscow believes they will be, and Mr Lavrov has also accused Warsaw of taking revenge on Russia for its actions in Georgia. The BBC's Adam Easton, in Warsaw, says that the fact that Mr Lavrov is visiting the country so soon after the Polish government agreed to host the missile defence system is being seen by commentators as something of a breakthrough.
Relations between the Russia and its former Soviet bloc neighbours have been increasingly strained by the conflict in Georgia.
Mr Lavrov has accused Warsaw of taking revenge on Russia for its actions in Georgia, and in a statement on Thursday the foreign ministry said it was also "seriously worried" by Ukraine's support for Georgia.
Some commentators and diplomats fear growing confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy this week expressed strong support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Nevertheless, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes his country must engage with Russia - one of its largest trading partners - even if it strongly opposes Russia's actions in Georgia.
Both he and his Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, are expected to try to persuade Mr Lavrov that the 10 US interceptor missiles to be based in Poland will not be aimed at Russia.
Washington says the system is designed to knock out long-range missile strikes launched from countries like Iran.Washington says the system is designed to knock out long-range missile strikes launched from countries like Iran.
But the fact that Poland demanded short-range Patriot missiles, which could protect it from Russian strikes, in exchange for hosting the base has done nothing to alleviate Moscow's suspicions.But the fact that Poland demanded short-range Patriot missiles, which could protect it from Russian strikes, in exchange for hosting the base has done nothing to alleviate Moscow's suspicions.