US conciliatory over missile plan

By Jonathan Beale
BBC News, Washington

The US wants to place missile defence bases in eastern Europe

The United States has proposed working with Nato and Russia in an attempt to allay Moscow's objections to its missile defence shield.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates will travel to Moscow next week to discuss America's controversial defence system.

The US wants to place missile defence bases in eastern Europe to intercept any threat from so-called rogue states.

Russia opposes the move, saying it could threaten its own defences.

Before Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates set out for Moscow, Washington has adopted a conciliatory tone.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said the solution was that the US worked with Nato and Russia to produce a common system of missile defence that would benefit everyone's security while addressing Russia's concerns.

He added that if Russia cooperated, then they would be more confident that missiles were not directed against them.

However, Mr Fried repeated that Poland and the Czech Republic were ideal sites for the missile defence shield, making it difficult to see how Moscow's objections will be addressed.

Strains between Moscow and Washington are not confined to the missile defence shield.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will pull out of an arms treaty that limits the deployment of conventional forces by Nato and Warsaw Pact countries.

Nor has Moscow lifted its objections to Kosovo's independence.

The US says Kosovo's unresolved status must be decided by the end of the year.