WARSAW, March 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said Wednesday in the U.S. embassy in Warsaw that fragments of a U.S. anti-missile shield in Europe will protect European NATO members, not just the United States.

    "The U.S. can ensure its safety without installations either in Poland or the Czech Republic. This system is to protect Europe," the Polish PAP news agency quoted Fried as saying.

    Commenting Russian fears of the system, Fried reminded that the shield was aimed against attacks from the Mideast, especially Iran, and was no threat to Russia.

    Russia is not threatened by this system and Russia knows it perfectly well, Fried said.

    Earlier in the same day, Fried met with Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga.

    In January the U.S. suggested the installation of parts of its anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. ¡¡