Friday April 13 11:04 AM ET
Russia Sees Tough U.S. Talks, Against 'Natocentrism'

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said on Friday he expected tough talks on issues including U.S. plans for a missile defense shield when he visits Washington in May.

He also reiterated that Russia was ready to work with NATO, but rejected the idea that the alliance should dominate world affairs.

``We understand very well that this discussion will be difficult. We have serious differences in our positions and negotiations will be tough,'' he told a parliamentary committee, Russian news agencies reported.

Moscow's position in relations would be ``principled but non-confrontational,'' he said during a meeting of the foreign relations committee of the State Duma, Russia's lower house.

Ivanov agreed to a May Washington visit during talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell in Paris on Thursday. They also agreed that Presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush would meet as soon as possible for the first time, and no later than a Genoa summit of the Group of Eight on July 22-24.

Russian-U.S. ties have been tense since Bush came to office. His decision to downgrade ties with Russia left Moscow smarting. A major spy scandal, which led both sides to order out 50 diplomats, has also strained relations.

The U.S. plan for a missile shield to halt attacks from potential enemies such as Libya and North Korea has also angered Russia. Moscow says the defense would upset the world strategic balance by allowing Washington to fend off its nuclear weapons.

Ivanov said problems in ties were being caused because U.S. foreign policy was still in a transitional phase. ``There are general approaches, but no meat on the bones,'' he said.

Russia's ties with Iran, viewed as a sponsor of terrorism by Washington, will also be a tough talking point, Ivanov said. Washington is angry over Russia's drawing closer to Iran and its help to build nuclear plants in the Islamic state.

But Ivanov said Russia was not helping Iran obtain nuclear-capable military status. ``Russia does not want the appearance of weapons of mass destruction in any place, including Iran,'' he said.

On NATO, he said Russia viewed the alliance as an inescapable factor it had to deal with. But he added: ``Attempts to build a future on a scheme of NATOcentrism do not provide answers to the existing problems of European security.''

Russia has had tense moments with NATO, fiercely objecting to its bombing of Yugoslavia and its eastwards expansion. However, Russia troops are part of the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

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