The Poles cannot link the modernization of their army with the stationing of the US anti-missile system on their soil, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek told the public broadcaster Czech Television (CT) on Sunday.

Topolanek told CT that he understood the Polish attitude, but one could take issue with it.

The Czech condition towards the US is access to the US research in this sphere, though it does not speak about it loudly, said Topolanek who discussed the radar base with US President George Bush in Washington last week.

"This is our condition though we do not push for it as strictly as Poles," he pointed out.

"I hope that they will eventually agree with Americans and the entire project will be launched together as this is in the interest of European NATO countries," he added.

Poles have made it clear that they are not in a hurry on the issue. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who will meet Bush on March 10, does not expect the talks to be completed in the nearest future.

Warsaw seeks help in the sphere of air protection and demands the anti-missile defense system Patriot 3 or THAAD as well as a long-term program of military aid and a special bilateral defense agreement.

The US hopes to install 10 interceptor missiles in Poland by 2012 and associated radar stations in the Czech Republic. Its negotiations with Warsaw and Prague are ongoing.

The Czech centre-right government favors the US project, while some 70 percent of Czech citizens reject it.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2008)