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Nato urges calm in Russia dispute Nato urges calm in Russia dispute
(31 minutes later)
Russia and the West should tone down their rhetoric in their bitter disputes over defence, Kosovo and other issues, Nato's secretary general has said.Russia and the West should tone down their rhetoric in their bitter disputes over defence, Kosovo and other issues, Nato's secretary general has said.
"There is no reason to speak with megaphones," Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters after talks in Moscow."There is no reason to speak with megaphones," Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters after talks in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to point missiles at Europe if the US stations parts of a new missile shield near Russia's borders.Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to point missiles at Europe if the US stations parts of a new missile shield near Russia's borders.
Moscow also opposes a Western-backed plan for independence in Kosovo.Moscow also opposes a Western-backed plan for independence in Kosovo.
Partnership
"It is advisable to lower the volume of public comments on both sides," Mr de Hoop Scheffer said after talks with President Putin."It is advisable to lower the volume of public comments on both sides," Mr de Hoop Scheffer said after talks with President Putin.
"Given our starting point as Cold War adversaries, the task of building a genuine Russia-Nato partnership has never been an easy one.""Given our starting point as Cold War adversaries, the task of building a genuine Russia-Nato partnership has never been an easy one."
Russia has expressed anger at US plans to site a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 anti-missile interceptors in Poland. These remarks about targeting missiles do not fit, and they do not have a place in these discussions Jaap de Hoop Scheffer class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6737207.stm">Russia warns US over shield
Russia has expressed anger at the proposed US missile defence shield - particularly plans to site a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 anti-missile interceptors in Poland.
Nato and the US say the facilities would not be directed as Russia, but at "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran.Nato and the US say the facilities would not be directed as Russia, but at "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran.
Expansion 'threat' Mr Putin recently warned that Russia would target its missiles back at Europe if Washington went ahead with the programme.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/5106762.stm">How defence system works Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Nato against steps that would compromise Russian security. On Tuesday Mr de Hoop Scheffer said: "The Nato-Russia relationship is one of partnership, and in the framework of the partnership these remarks about targeting missiles do not fit, and they do not have a place in these discussions."
On Kosovo, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he had urged Mr Putin to allow the UN security Council to vote on the province's future "as soon as possible".
Western countries support a plan that would give the territory independence from Serbia, but Russia - which wields a veto in the council - says further negotiations are needed.
How defence system works
The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says the question is putting pressure on relations between Russia and Nato at a time when they are already strained.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Nato against steps that would compromise Russian security.
He said each side should avoid "taking any steps aimed at improving someone's security at the expense of the security of others".He said each side should avoid "taking any steps aimed at improving someone's security at the expense of the security of others".
Moscow has voiced opposition to Nato's possible further eastward expansion to include more former Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Georgia. As a compromise, Mr Putin has offered the US joint use of a Soviet-build radar base in Azerbaijan.
Russia and Western powers also have different visions of Kosovo's future. But US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Washington viewed the offer as an additional capability, not a substitute for the plan.
The US and European Union support a United Nations plan to give the territory independence, but Russia says further negotiations on its status are needed. Moscow has also voiced opposition to Nato's possible further eastward expansion to include more former Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Georgia.