Warsaw (Reuters) - President Barack Obama promised close cooperation with the Poland Saturday on missile defence, the modernization of its means of air defence and in the development of shale gas and nuclear energy to enhance its energy security.
In his first visit to Warsaw, Obama also defends his "reset" relations with the Russia, a policy which sometimes annoyed poles are suspicious of the resurgence of Moscow and its efforts to reduce Western influence in the former Soviet republics.
"Poland is one of our strongest and closest allies in the world and is a leader in Europe", Obama told a joint with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk press conference.
"We want to do is to create an environment in this region where peace and security are a given." This is not only good for this region. It's good for the United States of America. And we've always will be for the Poland. ?
Obama and Tusk finalized an agreement to establish an air detachment U.S. in Poland of 2013 which will help to train Polish pilots in the use of F-16 fighter planes and C-130 transport planes.
"Size (detachment) is not great, but it is a very significant gesture," said Tusk, alluding to the desire for a long time in Warsaw for "American boots on the ground."
"What I have heard today gives me the impression that we work together to improve the security of the Poland."
Obama reaffirmed the role of the Poland in plans for missile defense to counter the threat of ballistic missile in the short and medium term of countries such as the Iran. Plans include deploying SM - 3 interceptors in 2018 Poland.
RUSSIA LINKS "ZEROING."
Obama invited to take part in its plans for missile defence for Europe, the Russia, but Moscow is seeking a greater share in the development of them stir unease between the poles and others.
"We believe defence missile is something where we can cooperate with the Russia...". Will not be a threat to the strategic balance, "said Obama.
Warsaw has tried to repair his own long-cold ties with Moscow, but remain areas of friction, including an investigation into the causes of a plane crash in Russia last year which killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others.
Obama visited a monument for the victims of the accident Saturday.
On energy security, confirmed Obama interests of American companies in the development of the Poland shale gas – estimated by some experts to be the most important in Europe to 5.3 billion cubic metres - and by helping to build its first nuclear plant.
Warsaw hopes that the two projects will significantly reduce its heavy reliance on polluting coal and on imports of Russian natural gas.
Obama had words sharp for Belarus neighbors, which courts have sentenced opposition politicians to long prison sentences in these last days. He and the Poland urged the two President Alexander Lukashenko to release all and demonstrate respect for human rights.
"The kind of repressive measures, we are witnessing in Belarus may end up having a negative impact on the entire region and that makes us less safe and makes us less secure," said Obama.
He said the transition of the Poland of democracy over the past two decades has provided a model for the neighbours of the ex-Soviet as the Ukraine and the Belarus and to reform the Arab countries.
Promotion of democracy in the Arab world and Eastern Europe has been the theme of the Obama talks Friday night with about 20 of Central and Eastern leaders Europeans gathered in Warsaw.
Speaking in a room of the presidential palace where the discussions of the Round Table took place in 1989 which ended the Communist regime in the Poland, Obama said that Warsaw could provide some useful lessons in the construction of a democracy for reformers everywhere in the world.
In a gesture that delighted guests, Obama threw its weight behind the efforts in the Congress of United States to facilitate the visa regime for Poles travelling to the United States, a major irritant in bilateral ties.
(Written by Gareth Jones; editing by Mark Heinrich)
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