Russia, US can overcome missile dispute-Putin

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany, June 7 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin said today the United States and Russia would have no difficulties if they work together openly on the divisive issue of missile defence.

After meeting US President George W Bush at a Group of Eight summit, Putin said through a translator that if Washington and Moscow cooperate transparently on missile defence ''then we'll have no problems.'' Putin also said Russia had considered very thoroughly a US proposal for cooperating on U.S. plans to develop a missile shield in Poland the Czech Republic but said Russia had its own ideas. He did not give details.

It was the two presidents' first one-on-one meeting since before Putin launched an attack on the Bush administration at a conference in February, where he accused Washington of trying to force its will on the world and become its ''single master''.

The main target of Putin's frequent verbal assaults since that speech has been Washington's plan to deploy 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.

The project has infuriated Moscow which says it will upset the global strategic balance and could be used to launch attack missiles or to spy on Russia.

White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters that in his meeting with Bush Putin had shown a readiness to work with the United States on missile defence.

''What we got was a willingness to do so (cooperate),'' he said.

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