U.S.shares defense plans with Russia

MOSCOW, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Moscow is studying new U.S. proposals aimed at easing Russia's concerns over a planned European missile shield, a foreign ministry official said Friday.

U.S. Undersecretary of State John Rood said a new offer would allow Russian monitors access to planned missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, Novosti reported.

Moscow has repeatedly expressed its opposition to U.S. plans to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an accompanying radar in the Czech Republic, saying they threaten Russia's national security.

Also under study in Moscow are proposals on finding a replacement to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expires at the end of 2009.

"We have received the proposals and are currently studying them," said Igor Lyakin-Frolov, deputy head of the press and information department at the Russian Foreign Ministry.