Bush: Russia should not fear missile defence plan

Russia is not an enemy of the United States and has nothing to fear from a proposed missile defence system designed to thwart a possible nuclear attack from Iran, US President George Bush said today.

"Russia is not the enemy," Bush said after meeting with Czech leaders in a visit to Prague en route to the G8 summit in Germany.

He said he would take a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "we can work together on common threats".

The Kremlin is bitterly opposed to the missile shield, and Putin warned yesterday that Russia could take "retaliatory steps" if Washington insisted on building it.

Polls show more than 60% of Czechs are against plans to station a radar system south west of Prague, and surveys in Poland - where 10 interceptor missiles would be based - show strong opposition there as well. Both countries are still negotiating with the US over whether to host the shield.

Mr Bush sought to play down Russia's response, which has overshadowed his European trip.

"The Cold War is over. It ended," Mr Bush said at the medieval Prague Castle, where he met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

"My message will be: Vladimir - I call him Vladimir - you shouldn't fear a missile defence system. As a matter of fact, why don't you co-operate with us on a missile defense system?" Mr Bush said.

"The people of the Czech Republic don't have to choose between being a friend of Russia or a friend of the United States. You can be both," he said.

US experts contend the shield poses no threat to Russia because the missiles involved would be purely defensive and incapable of being fitted with warheads.

Mr Bush said the system would be co-ordinated with Nato. He said he would urge Mr Putin to participate.

"Please send your generals over to see how such a system would work. Send your scientists," Mr Bush said.

Mr Klaus said he had frank and open discussions with Mr Bush on the missile shield, "and we understand each other".

"We are aware that the US bears high responsibility for the situation in the world, and I would like to stress that the United States and President Bush have our support in that," said Mr Klaus, whose country has deployed troops to the US-led campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Bush also said he was working with the US Congress to ease visa restrictions for Czechs.

The European Union is pressing for visa-free travel for all 27 of its member states, including the Czech Republic, which joined the bloc in 2004.