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U.S. agrees to talks on missile shield

Vladimir Radyuhin

Bush conveys message to Putin

MOSCOW: Following strong objections from Russia to the United State's plan to build a missile defence in Europe, Washington has agreed to discuss the issue with Moscow.

U.S. President George W. Bush conveyed his readiness to hold detailed consultations with Russia on the American plans, in a telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

Mr. Putin spelt out Russia's concerns over the proposed missile shield, and "noted with satisfaction the U.S. President's assurance that he was ready to discuss the issue in detail and to cooperate with the Russian side in the interests of common security," the Kremlin said.

Russia has denounced the U.S. plans to deploy missile interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic as a threat to its security and ridiculed Washington's explanations that the shield was needed to guard against missile attacks from Iran and North Korea.

Moscow has threatened to take military steps to counter the threat. A day after Mr. Bush called Mr. Putin to discuss Iran, Kosovo and the missile defence shield, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, in an interview to the Russian Vesti TV channel, appealed to Russia to join the U.S. in building a common missile shield.

Russia's protests against the missile defence have caused a split among Washington's NATO allies, with Polish and Czech leaders welcoming the U.S. plans, and Germany and France urging consultations with Russia.

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