Lithuania's defense minister says his country would consider hosting
parts of a U.S. missile defense system if asked, but says no talks on
the subject are underway.
Juozas Olekas Wednesday
downplayed reports there was any immediate need for such
consideration. He told Lithuanian media that he believed current talks
between Washington and Warsaw on deploying parts of the shield in
Poland will be completed successfully.
But Olekas added that if a proposal is made, Lithuania would consider all its positive and negative aspects.
U.S.
officials Tuesday denied a news report that the U.S. was talking to
Lithuania about the program if plans with Poland fall through. A State
Department spokesman called the notion of any proposal to Lithuania an
"overstatement."
A Pentagon spokesman added Tuesday that while a deal with Poland may be close, the U.S. must consider a back-up plan.
The
United States wants to place interceptor missiles in Poland and radar
in the Czech Republic to counter what it says is a threat from Iran.
Russia strongly opposes the plan as a threat to its own security.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
