Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, said talks with the Czech Republic "continue to go very, very well."

"We are moving ever closer to an agreement with the Czech Republic. Hopefully, we'll have something to announce within the matter of weeks, hopefully not much longer than that," he said.

Morrell's upbeat characterization of the talks with the Czech Republic comes as a new Polish government is pressing for security guarantees from Washington in return for deploying interceptor missiles on its territory.

Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich, who met here last week with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, said Poland wanted US help in modernizing its air defense system.

The US move to install a missile defense system in Europe has angered Russia, which sees it as an encroachment in its former sphere of influence that could one day be turned against Moscow.

Morrell said there have no progress in US diplomatic efforts to engage the Russians.

earlier related report
Romania should benefit from US anti-missile shield: PM
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu on Tuesday called for the planned US anti-missile shield in Europe to be extended to protect his country and neighbouring Bulgaria. Romania wanted NATO's concept of defence solidarity to embrace security for its south-east European flank, Tariceanu told reporters after meeting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

"We must be aware of the risks which exist from various areas," he told reporters. The talks between the two leaders were largely devoted to preparations for NATO's April summit in Bucharest. But Tariceanu added that the US plans should not exclude Russia, which has denounced the project as a threat to its own security.

"(Russia) should be a partner in this sphere both for the EU and NATO," he said. Washington is currently in negotiations with Warsaw to install 10 interceptor missile sites in Poland by 2012 to ward off potential attacks by so-called rogue states, notably Iran. The plan calls for associated radar stations in the Czech Republic.

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