Russia joins missile talks in U.S.

26 Mar, 2008 11:43 / Updated 17 years ago

Another round of talks over America’s controversial missile shield in Europe are due to start in Washington between Russian and U.S. officials. It comes just a week after senior administration officials met in Moscow.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Kislyak will head the Russian delegation and Assistant Secretary of State John Rood will head the American group of experts. On the table are the new proposals offered by Washington during the recent visit of Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates to Moscow. Russia is expected to give its response at the talks in the U.S. capital. Meanwhile Poland says it will only accept temporary checks of U.S. missile bases on its soil by Russia and only on a reciprocal basis. In return, Warsaw would like access to Russia's missile defence system. The country's Defence Minister Bogdan Klich made the statement in an interview with a local newspaper.