Russians, Americans Fail To Close Missile Shield Divide

MOSCOW — The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said today that Russia and America still disagree over a missile shield for central Europe, while Defense Secretary Gates said the system “would not constitute a threat” to Moscow.After talks with Mr. Gates and Secretary of State Rice, Mr. Lavrov told a news conference that America remains determined to deploy missile defense facilities in central Europe and that Russia continues to oppose those plans. But both Mr. Lavrov and Ms. Rice voiced confidence that Washington and Moscow can continue to work constructively on this and a wide array of issues.“When we have differences, we can talk about them in an atmosphere of mutual respect,” Ms. Rice said, agreeing with Mr. Lavrov that the two sides do not agree about the positioning of the missile defense system.Mr. Gates, joining Mr. Lavrov and Ms. Rice at a news conference, said that “we’ve leaned very far forward in this to provide assurance” that the system is not a threat.“I would say they listened very carefully,” Mr. Gates said. “President Putin took extensive notes last night and there was a lot done during the day today. That said, the full range of what we are now prepared to offer to discuss with the Russians is really just now after the day’s talks being put down on paper, so the Russians will not see this until this evening. You have already heard the foreign minister positively characterize the ideas. … Now they need to study them in greater detail. And I would expect and hope that we would hear back reasonably quickly.”Mr. Lavrov said that the two sides had “discussed contentious issues where we have not reached agreement.” He also said the best way to avoid the problem “is to not set up this preferred positioning site at all.”Despite tensions over the missile defense system, Mr. Lavrov had said earlier that Moscow would do what it could to keep relations with America on an even keel as President Putin of Russia steps down this spring.A senior American official traveling with the Cabinet secretaries confirmed that America presented a document to the Russians yesterday outlining what the America thinks are the main issues that define the relationship between the two nations. The official was not specific but indicated that the issues include those that have troubled the Russians the most, such as the American plan for a missile shield.During a brief greeting witnessed by reporters yesterday, Mr. Putin did not mention American plans for the missile shield system in Poland and the Czech Republic — a proposition that has stoked Cold War rhetoric about an imperial America meddling at Russia’s doorstep.Mr. Gates and Ms. Rice came into the talks exploring whether American concessions have softened Putin’s opposition to the shield system.Ms. Rice said the two sides did agree during their talks here to set up a “joint strategic framework document” spelling out the various elements of American-Russian relations.“I, for one, have found the discussions useful. I have found them constructive,” she said. Ms. Rice said she was glad the Russian side had agreed to look at the missile shield proposal “more closely.”“We have work to do do,” she acknowledged.Although President Bush was expected to see Ms. Putin during a NATO summit next month, the two-day visit closes a chapter in negotiations with Mr. Putin as president.Greeting Mr. Gates and Ms. Rice in his ornate office yesterday, Mr. Putin recalled that they had held talks last October — a session dominated by differences over missile defense and marked by sharp rhetoric from the Russian president.“Six months have passed and we believe that in some of these issues we can probably dot the I’s and reach final agreement,” Mr. Putin said.Even before the Americans arrived, Ms. Bush had sent Mr. Putin a letter framing the discussions. Mr. Bush wanted to make sure Mr. Putin stuck to the script, and American participation in the unusual session hinged on Mr. Putin’s agreement.“The president wanted to assess whether there was openness to cooperation on some of these issues that have been difficult, like missile defense,” Ms. Rice told reporters afterward. “He wanted to see … whether President Putin is really interested in pursuing progress on a number of fronts.”

Russians, Americans Fail To Close Missile Shield Divide

Russians, Americans Fail To Close Missile Shield Divide

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