The Polish government has formally agreed to open talks on hosting a US missile defense site in the country, local media reports quoted government officials as saying yesterday.

Reports quoted government officials as saying that Poland has officially told the US it is interested in opening negotiations on the possibility of hosting a US missile defense site in Poland.

On Friday, the Polish Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it has delivered a diplomatic note to the US Embassy in Warsaw on the issue.

The Foreign Ministry statement said that any agreement to be eventually reached between Poland and the US in this respect should contribute to strengthening security for Poland and the US as well as for the international community.

The US is seeking to build a site for 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic.

The US move has drawn sharp criticism from Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2007)