WARSAW, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Polish deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said Thursday Poland would have to cover part of costs of modernizing the Polish army and its defense system, but it could also expect the United States to extend significant support in this field.

    Waszczykowski was asked by Polish news agency PAP on Thursday to make a comment concerning a statement by assistant U.S. secretary of state for political-military affairs Stephen Mull who is leading U.S. negotiations with Warsaw on its defense modernization.

    On Wednesday Mull said in Washington that Poland would have to finance most of the defense modernization it is seeking from the Bush administration in exchange for deploying part of a missile defense shield.

    "It is obvious that Poland would finance its army and defense system modernization but we also expect the U.S. to significantly contribute financially to upgrading the Polish armed forces," Waszczykowski said.

    "Under way are talks on the base, shield and modernization of the Polish army. And everything is still ahead of us," he added.

    The United States wants to place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic to guard against possible missile threats from the so-called rouge states.

    In return for its agreement to install the shield Poland wants the United States to participate in the modernization of the Polish army, mainly of its air defense.

    Russia has objected the anti-missile shield plan, saying it will threat Russian national security, and has warned that Moscow will target its missiles at the system if it is deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic.