Lavrov: Russia and US still have differences over missile defense

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russian officials say Moscow and Washington still disagree on US missile defense plans but that the United States has made constructive proposals meant to ease Moscow's concerns. At Moscow talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US officials reiterated their intention of deploying missile defense facilities in eastern Europe, and that Moscow still opposes those plans. But Lavrov said the US has made "quite important and useful" proposals aimed to address Moscow's concerns that the planned system is meant to weaken Russia rather than counter a potential Iranian threat.