Putin confirms Russia's opposition to NMD deployment in Europe by

Moscow, May 15 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia's opposition to Washington's plans to deploy elements of national missile shield in Europe during talks with visiting US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice today.

''Russia confirmed its stance on National Missile Defence (NMD),'' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavorv told journalists after the talks at presidential country residence, in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow.

Mr Lavrov, however, added that Mr Putin shared the understanding by the US side of the need to tone down the rhetoric in the public debate.

''As for Kosovo, we agreed to seek solutions that would suit everyone but unfortunately so far there have been no signs of such solutions,'' he said.

Mr Lavrov and Mr Putin's special aide on foreign affairs, Sergei Prikhodko also took part in the talks.

Ms Rice arrived in Moscow yesterday to hold talks with her Russian counterpart on various strategic and international issues. She also held an informal meeting with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Russian-US relations were going through a difficult period but the existing tensions between the two countries will not develop into a new Cold War, Rice said yesterday.

''I do not throw around terms like 'new Cold War','' she said adding, ''It is a big, complicated relationship, but it is not one that is anything like the implacable hostility that clouded ties between the United States and the Soviet Union.'' ''It is not an easy time in the relationship, but it is also not, I think, a time in which cataclysmic things are affecting the relationship or catastrophic things are happening in the relationship,'' Ms Rice said.

UNI