Russia cautions US on missile shield

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the onus is on Washington to abandon its missile shield initiative in Eastern Europe.

Speaking at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday, Lavrov advised the Bush administration to abandon its missile plans as it would be the best solution for the Washington-Kremlin standoff.

"Our position is simple. We think that the best way to remove the concerns about the third missile area is the rejection of such plans, and a switch to a collective project with participation of Russia, the US and European countries," AP quoted Lavrov as saying.

His statement followed intense US effort to sway Moscow with various proposals regarding the projected missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Lavrov said although Russian officials are studying Washington's proposals, the US missile plan should be dropped completely.

Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin has brushed aside Western claims that the missile shield is necessary to protect Europe against a potential missile threat from the Islamic Republic. Press TV