Leaders of the Socialist and Communist Parties of Germany and Ukraine have signed a declaration against U.S. plans to deploy its anti-missile bases in Eastern Europe.
The proclamation was agreed on in Berlin's Treptow Park – founded in memory of Soviet soldiers who died during WW2. Earlier, the document was signed by left-wing parties in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. “We, Germans on the left, are against a new stage in the arms race. We do not see any meaning in the creation of new American systems in Poland and the Czech Republic. It will only provoke other countries and lead to an increase in tension,” Lotar Biski, from the Party of Democratic Socialism, said. The controversy over the ABM issue has been going on since the beginning of the year. In January, the United States started negotiations with the Czech government over the placing of a radar system on Czech territory. It also released plans to place components of a missile shield in Poland. Washington says the missile defence system is needed to protect Europe and the U.S. from terrorist attacks.