PRAGUE, May 51 (Xinhua) -- Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolaneksaid here Thursday that the planned U.S. missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland would not be aimed at Russia.

    The anti-missile shield, parts of which the United States wants to base in the Czech Republic and Poland, is not an attack system and is necessary for European security, Topolanek said at a gathering of main Czech government and parliamentary leaders on the issues of the U.S. anti-missile defense system.

    Russia is seeking to strengthen its influence and weaken NATO's role through its efforts in opposing the missile shield. However, its opposition will not influence the Czech government's decision, Topolanek added.

    The U.S. made a formal request in January to place a radar base in a military area southwest of Prague and 10 interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland as part of a planned global missile defense shield, which Washington claims will only target possible missile threats from Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    Russia has repeatedly criticized the U.S. proposal, saying it will harm regional security and has warned that Russia's strategic missiles would target the system if it is placed in Czech Republic and Poland.