Russia warns of obstacles to missile shield agreement with US

Russia said on Thursday that the United States must halt its plans to deploy a missile shield in eastern Europe before the two countries can start a full-fledged dialogue on missile defence.
A Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko, also insisted that Moscow would not cooperate in the Pentagon's plans to site an anti-missile radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland.
"We cannot agree to cooperate on the creation of sites which in their essence are designed to oppose Russia's strategic deterrent forces. No one will do something that harms himself," Nesterenko said.
"Only a US withdrawal from plans to place the so-called third position area of strategic missile defence in Europe can allow full-fledged dialogue to start on issues of cooperation in the reaction to probable missile threats."
The term "third position area" refers to the US plans in eastern Europe. The previous two areas of the planned multibillion-dollar missile shield are in the US states of Alaska and California.
However Nesterenko also voiced hope that a deal could eventually be reached: "We expect that on matters of missile defence, in the end it will be possible to find a common denominator and reach a mutually agreeable decision."
Nesterenko's comments on Thursday were in response to Russian media reports that the two countries had made progress on the issue and that the United States might even situate elements of its missile shield in Russia.
The reports, which appeared in multiple Russian newspapers, were based on testimony by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates this week before US senators.
But a spokesperson for Gates told AFP that the Pentagon chief's comments had been misconstrued and that the reported plans to put US missile-shield facilities in Russia were a misinterpretation.
Moscow has reacted angrily to the US missile defence plans, saying they are a threat to Russian security, although Washington says they are not directed against Russia and are meant to protect against "rogue states" like Iran.
Former US president George W. Bush strongly backed the missile shield, but the new administration of President Barack Obama has slowed down implementation of the project.