MOSCOW, December 18 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S. and Russia need more transparency in negotiations on Washington's plans to deploy missile defense elements in Central Europe, the Russian foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Speaking on the Ekho Moskvy radio station, Sergei Lavrov said: "We will be prepared to counter all risks emerging from the new missile defense bases planned to be created. But we are also ready to ensure transparency on both sides if any trust-building measures are offered."
Washington wants to place a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland, purportedly to counter missile attacks from "rogue" states. Moscow has opposed the plans, saying they would destroy the strategic balance of forces and threaten Russia's national interests.
Earlier reports said the first missile could be put on alert in Poland in 2011 and the deployment could be completed by 2013.
