The United States will continue to consult with Russia on plans to install parts of its missile shield in Europe, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said in Berlin Wednesday after meeting German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung, according to DPA. Gates added that an invitation had been issued to the Russians to inspect interceptor missile sites in Alaska and radar installations in California with the aim of increasing confidence. The US had also offered to "co-locate" radar installations and share data. "We will continue to consult with the Russians on missile defence as well as with our allies," the US defence secretary said. "We've made some very far-reaching proposals." Referring to negative comments from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following his visit to Moscow on Monday, Gates said there were clearly differing opinions within the Kremlin and the Russian military. "It will perhaps take a while for the Russians to consider what we've discussed," Gates said, noting that Lavrov had not participated in the meetings in Moscow. "There clearly have to be divisions in Moscow on how to respond," he said, adding that he had an invitation to return there for further talks. Both Lavrov and Yury Baluyevsky, head of Russia's Armed Forces General Staff, were critical after Gates' Moscow visit.
