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Nato chief to hold Moscow talks Russia presses Nato over shield
(about 3 hours later)
Nato's secretary general is due to meet top Russian officials in Moscow shortly, at a time of strained relations between the two sides. Russia has urged Nato to avoid any steps that could undermine Russia's security, at the start of discussions on several thorny issues in Moscow.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said issues such as missile defence and the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty required careful handling.
Tensions have risen recently over a US plan to install parts of a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe. He said neither side should take steps "aimed at strengthening someone's security at the expense of others".
In response, Moscow has threatened to re-aim missiles at Europe's cities if the US goes ahead with the plan. Russia objects to a US plan for a missile defence shield in Europe.
But both Russia and Nato may try to use Mr de Hoop Scheffer's visit to stress areas where they do feel they can work together, such as combating terrorism, the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says. The plan - to site a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 anti-missile interceptors in Poland - is expected to top the agenda of Tuesday's talks between Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
'No threat' Mr Lavrov said work on such issues would be "anything but simple".
Mr de Hoop Scheffer is in Moscow to mark the fifth anniversary of the Nato-Russia Council. Moscow has threatened to re-aim missiles at European cities if the US goes ahead with the plan.
During the council's session, he will hold talks with Mr Lavrov. He is also due to meet President Putin.
How defence system worksHow defence system works
On Monday, Mr de Hoop Scheffer again defended the US missile defence plan - the issue that is likely to top the agenda of the talks in Moscow. Mr de Hoop Scheffer is in Moscow to mark the fifth anniversary of the Nato-Russia Council.
Moscow has voiced opposition to Nato's possible further eastward expansion to include more former Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Georgia.
Russia and Western powers also have different visions of Kosovo's future. The US and European Union support a UN plan to give the territory independence, but Russia says further negotiations on its status are needed.
Missile shield tensions
On Monday, the Nato chief again defended the US missile defence plan.
"You don't have to be Einstein to understand that 10 interceptor rockets don't pose any threat to Russia," Mr de Hoop Scheffer said during a debate in St Petersburg, broadcast on Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station."You don't have to be Einstein to understand that 10 interceptor rockets don't pose any threat to Russia," Mr de Hoop Scheffer said during a debate in St Petersburg, broadcast on Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station.
He also said Russia and Nato were "enemies and tried to destroy each other" during the Cold War but "that era has now finished".He also said Russia and Nato were "enemies and tried to destroy each other" during the Cold War but "that era has now finished".
As part of an expansion of its anti-missile shield, the US is planning to install a sophisticated radar tracking system in the Czech Republic and 10 anti-missile interceptors in Poland. Washington has said the missile shield is necessary to protect against any missile attacks from "rogue states".
Washington has said the shield is necessary to protect against any missile attacks from "rogue states".
Russia sees the shield as a threat to its national security.Russia sees the shield as a threat to its national security.
President Putin recently warned that Russia would target its missiles back at Europe if Washington went ahead with its missile shield. Mr Putin recently warned that Russia would target its missiles back at Europe if Washington went ahead with its missile shield.
As a compromise, Mr Putin offered the US joint use of a Soviet-build radar base in Azerbaijan.As a compromise, Mr Putin offered the US joint use of a Soviet-build radar base in Azerbaijan.
But US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Washington viewed the offer as an additional capability, not a substitute for the plan. But US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Washington viewed the offer as an additional capability, not a substitute for the plan.
Moscow has also voiced opposition to Nato's possible further eastward expansion to include more former Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Georgia.