RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Jan. 11, 2008
Today: Poland is looking more flexible on the missile defense shield, Moscow bans cigarette advertisements, a wealthy Georgian opposition leader is charged with terrorism, Serbia is warned over a Russian energy siege, and a big hockey fight. Pressure from Russia is beginning change the diplomatic strategy of Poland and the Czech Republic in their discussions with the United States over the plans to build an anti-ballistic missile shield. Today it’s been reported that the two countries are teaming up to go into the talks together to increase their bargaining leverage. However it might just be about making the Americans pay for it all, rather than calling off the project. One way to do that is for Poland to invite Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Kislyak, to Warsaw to talks about the “strategic dangers” posed by the project. Tomas Valasek of CEF said “The new Polish government is prepared to drive a hard bargain because much is at stake if this system goes ahead. … Poland wants security guarantees from the U.S. since it is not convinced NATO would provide that guarantee. This means the U.S. putting boots on the ground in Poland but also helping Poland to upgrade its air defenses.”