Missile shield: Watson seeks clarity from Obama

4.16.00pm GMT Mon 10th Nov 2008

Speaking at the Seventh Congress on European Security and Defence in Berlin, ALDE Group Leader Graham Watson MEP called for clarity from the new US President with regard to America's Ballistic Missile Defence Programme:

"This weekend's confusion between President-elect Obama and President Kaczynski of Poland over the future of missile defence underlines the absolute importance of clarity in defence matters.

"The problem is that President-elect Obama has form on this.

"Early in 2008 he said that he would cut investments in 'unproven' missile defence systems, stating 'I will not weaponise space'.

"But by summer he had struck a different note, saying that 'I actually believe we need missile defence because of Iran and North Korea and the potential for them to obtain or to launch nuclear weapons'.

"The new President-elect is an impressive figure, but Europe needs certainty right from the start of his term in office.

"Will he continue to fund the current missile defence plans?

"Will he channel funding into alternative research?

"Or does he really want to pull the plug on the whole project?

"President Medvedev's decision last week to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad is a direct response to the missile shield and a clear message for Obama.

"European leaders should use this Friday's summit to call Mr Medvedev to account for that decision.

"But, regardless, the new American president must be clear about his views, and ready to work with his European partners in pursuit of a peaceful and secure future."