BUCHAREST (AFP) — George W. Bush is confident Russian concerns over an American anti-missile defence shield in Europe can be assuaged when he meets Vladimir Putin next week, according to an interview published by Romanian daily Evenimentul Zilei on Friday.
"I'm optimistic we can reach accord on very important matters," the US president told a group of overseas papers invited to the White House. "I think a lot of people in Europe would heave a deep sigh of relief if we're able to reach an accord on missile defence. And hopefully we can."
Bush and outgoing Russian President Putin are to meet in the Black Sea port of Sochi after the April 2-4 NATO summit in Romania, during which the possible expansion of the organisation to include ex-Soviet states Ukraine and Georgia -- strongly opposed by Russia -- will also be discussed.
The US plan would see 10 missile launchers stationed in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic by 2012.
"One of the things that, hopefully, is clear to the Russian side is that this system is not aimed at Russia," Bush added.
"There are areas where we have been able to be in a position where I've expressed my disagreements with President Putin on different matters related to their democracy.
"And my strategy all along is to keep relations such that he will actually listen to what I have to say."
Bush said Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates had made progress in talks on the issue earlier this month.
"Condi Rice and Bob Gates had a good visit with the President and counterparts on this very issue -- and hopefully, (...) we can advance our dialogue so, at some point in time, we can reach an agreement on these important matters: proliferation matters."
Washington says the scheme is to protect it and its European allies against missile threats from "rogue" states such as Iran, while Moscow sees it as a threat to its own security.
Russia has also threatened to withdraw from a Cold War-era treaty limiting short- and medium-range missiles in Europe if the US goes ahead.
According to an opinion poll for the International Herald Tribune newspaper and France 24 television also published Friday, Europeans are heavily opposed to the plan.
Concern about the scheme is strongest in Germany, with 71 percent of people opposed, and 19 percent in favour.
That is followed by Spain (61 percent against, 19 percent for), France (58 percent against, 22 percent for), Italy (49 percent against, 35 percent for) and Britain (44 percent against, 30 percent for).
Those figures were reversed in the United States, where 49 percent of people approve of the plan, and 25 percent are hostile.
By contrast, there was greater European support for a joint NATO-Russia anti-missile defence system -- although less in the US.
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