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Thursday, June 7, 2007

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HEILIGENDAMM, Germany -- Russian President Vladimir Putin, bitterly opposed to a U.S. missile shield in Europe, told President Bush on Thursday that Moscow would drop its objections if the radar-based system were installed in Azerbaijan.

Putin told Bush he would not seek to retarget Russian missiles on Europe if the United States agreed to put the system in the central Asian nation of Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic.

National Security Adviser Steve Hadley called it an "interesting proposal."

"Let's let our experts have a look at it," Hadley said.

Bush has proposed putting the radar and rockets in the Czech Republic and Poland.

"This will create grounds for common work," Putin told Bush as they met on the sidelines of a summit of the world's eight major industrialized democracies being held at this seaside resort.

Bush, speaking before Putin, said that the Russian president had presented some interesting suggestions and that they would pursue the issue during two days of talks beginning July 1 in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the Bush family's oceanfront compound.

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Putin's proposal to put the system in Azerbaijan was a surprise.

The Russian leader said the proposed relocation would alleviate Russia's concerns about a missile shield based in Europe. Moreover, he said an Azerbaijan-based system would cover all of Europe rather than part it.

© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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