Poland, US sign deployment accord

Poland and the United States on Friday signed an agreement on the status of US troops in the eastern European country ahead of the deployment of US Patriot missiles.

"This agreement allows the stationing of US soldiers and materiel in Poland," Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich told the press. "For Poland it means that its security will be strengthened."

The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) is a pre-requisite to setting up a US ground-to-air missile base in Poland. US officials say deployment should start in 2010.

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ellen Tauscher, who signed the accord, hailed the agreement as "the latest example of the very strong and enduring relationship that we only want to make deeper between the United States of America and Poland".

The agreement was signed by Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Komorowski for the Polish side.

"We have entered a good agreement because it reflects well our interests as the host country," said Klich.

"It is also good because it very well reflects our allied cooperation between Poland and the United States (...) and because it adds detail to the NATO SOFA agreement which is the major agreement because it sets the conditions of the stationing of foreign troops in another NATO country."

In accordance with the agreement, Poland retains its primacy of jurisdiction, Klich added.

The signing ceremony, originally scheduled for Thursday, was delayed for one day to make sure both sides will interpret certain provisions concurrently.

Defence ministry officials said disagreements focussed on possible wrongdoings by US soldiers.

"We hope that no US soldier who will be on the territory of the Republic of Poland will break the law," said Klich.

"But if that was to happen, that soldier would be subject to the responsibility and liable under a Polish court, unless at the request of the US side, this liability will be transferred over to the US side."

US soldiers will also pay their taxes in the United States.

During an October visit to Warsaw by US Vice President Joe Biden, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country was ready to join a new US anti-missile system in central Europe.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said the United States wants to deploy SM-3 missiles in Poland and the neighbouring Czech Republic in 2015.

Gates' announcement came after President Barack Obama scrapped a plan agreed in 2008 to install a controversial anti-missile shield system in the two countries.

The shield, promoted by Obama's predecessor George W. Bush, had angered Russia which considered it a threat to its security.

The Patriots and SM-3s are part of the new system proposed by the United States.