BRUSSELS (Reuters) - It may take many months before the United States and Poland clinch a deal on a U.S. missile shield site in the former Soviet bloc country, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Thursday.

"I do not expect sudden decisions ... Negotiations may still last many months," Sikorski told reporters during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried said on Monday the United States expected to conclude the talks with Poland by the end of President George W. Bush's term in office. Bush steps down in January.

"I am happy about Secretary Fried's optimism as it may mean meeting our demands," Sikorski said.

The Bush administration wants the missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a global system it says is meant to protect the United States and allies from long-range ballistic missiles from "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

Poland wants the United States to boost significantly its military assistance in return for allowing interceptor missiles to be based on its territory.

Asked what would happen if a new U.S. administration changed policy on the missile shield after the presidential election, Sikorski said: "It is a political risk that is part of this very complicated decision, and we are thinking about it."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will target its missiles at the system if it is deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Poland overthrew communist rule in 1989, escaping from the then Soviet bloc. It joined the NATO military alliance in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

(reporting by Marcin Grajewski, editing by Paul Taylor) 

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSL0689812720080306