Biden, soon in Central and Eastern Europe

US Vice President Joe BidenJoe Biden will visit from October 20-24 three of the most staunch allies from Central and Eastern Europe - Poland, Czech Republic and Romania, according to reports from the local media from those countries, quoting the White House. The trip is taking place shortly after the announcement of dropping the plans of building a missile defence system in the area, scheduled during the George W. BushGeorge W. Bush administration. The decision was regarded with dissatisfaction in Warsaw and Prague, countries who considered this defence system will protect in the eventuality of a possible attack from the Russian side.

Biden's agenda is including meeting with top officials from those countries, members of the political establishment or of the non-governmental associations, on issues related to strengthening democracy and ways to increase investments in the area, as well as the cooperation at the level of NATO.

Czech Republic, Romania and Poland, former members of the Warsaw Pact 20 years ago, were one of the most strongest allies of the US administration in the fight against terrorism and in the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, being considered, according to the former US Defence Secretary, part of the "new Europe".