Putin offers Bush wider missile defense cooperation

Kennebunkport (Maine), July 3: Russian President Vladimir Putin made a new counter-proposal to President George W Bush today for expanded cooperation on missile defense, an issue that has strained relations between their countries.

After talks at the Bush family compound, Bush called Putin's offer ''innovative'' and worthy of study, but insisted that a planned U.S. missile shield must still have components based in eastern Europe, despite Russia's objections.

The two-day summit on the rocky Maine coast was aimed at trying to ease tensions that have taken the US-Russia relationship to a post-Cold War low.

The two leaders turned from fishing trips and lobster meals to serious diplomacy as they confronted the main disputes that divide Washington and Moscow.

With the two countries deeply at odds over the US missile shield, Putin issued a new proposal, expanding on his offer last month for joint use of Russian radar in Azerbaijan as an alternative.

''We support the idea of consultations on missile defense and believe that the number of participants should be expanded to include the European states,'' Putin said. ''This should be done within Russia-NATO council.'' Putin also said Russia was ready to contribute a new advance-warning radar base in southern Russia.

Putin has said is not convinced by US insistence that the shield, with components based in Poland and the Czech Republic, was meant to defend against ''rogue states'' like Iran.

Russia considers it a security threat and an impingement on Moscow's former sphere of influence.

Other key areas of disagreement between the two countries include the future of Kosovo and the state of democracy in Russia.

Bush, pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran, said Putin shared US concerns about Iran's nuclear program.

The United States is seeking Russia's support for tougher UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

''I've been counting on the Russians' support to send a strong message to the Iranians,'' Bush said.

Both sides had advised against expecting breakthroughs at the informal, two-day summit neared an end.

Instead, they portrayed the meeting as a chance for Bush and Putin to revive the rapport they once enjoyed and to start mending US-Russia relations.

Reuters

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