Putin keen to maintain ties with Bush: spokesman

By Oleg Shchedrov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to promote further dialogue with U.S. President George W. Bush when they meet at the weekend, despite slim hopes of improving their ties, a Kremlin spokesman said on Thursday.

The two, divided on issues ranging from U.S. missile defense plans in Europe to democracy in Russian, will hold informal talks at the Bush family estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, on Sunday and Monday.

"We do not expect any breakthroughs," Dmitry Peskov told a telephone briefing. "It will be a continuation of dialogue in an informal atmosphere."

"It is a perfect opportunity to meet in a relaxed atmosphere to discuss both bilateral issues, not all of which are negative, and also an international agenda."

U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Eastern Europe are sure to dominate the meeting.

Russia rejects U.S. assertions that the missile shield is intended to avert possible attacks from countries such as Iran and sees a radar to be built in the Czech Republic and missiles to be deployed in Poland as a threat to its security.

Earlier this month, Putin offered Bush use of the Soviet-era Qabala radar in Azerbaijan instead. Several U.S. officials have said the Qabala could be a complement to, rather than a replacement for the Czech radar.

"We closely watch statements by Washington authorities on different levels," Peskov said speaking in English. "Some of them indicate that cooperation is ruled out, but we do not consider this an official answer.

"We will expect an answer to this official offer."

Russia has backed a set of international sanctions against Tehran, suspected by the West of seeking to create its own nuclear weapons, but it says it does not believe Tehran has the technology yet to target Europe.

Peskov said Russia was ready to be flexible in cooperating with the United States over missile defense as long as Washington did not site it in Europe.

"Constructive and pragmatic approach means flexibility," he said. "But flexibility is not endless."

He did not elaborate on where Russia could compromise. But asked if Moscow would be ready to allow U.S. equipment being installed in Qabala, Peskov stopped short of a flat rejection.

"This is for experts to decide," he said.

Peskov also said Russia's opposition to granting independence to Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo, the Israel-Palestinians conflict and Iran's nuclear dossier were likely to be discussed during the meeting.