The United States is interested in cooperation with Russia in the missile defense sphere, U.S. Assistant Secretary John Rood stated to a press conference in Astana. He said, President Putin's proposals in this regard are very important and interesting and the United States hopes that discussions over that offer will continue on the level of experts.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak, who was also present at that press conference, in his part underlined that President Vladimir Putin did not offer to place an air defense system in Azerbaijan. "The idea is not in building a new air defense system in Azerbaijan, and properly speaking we cannot offer to create an air defense system on the territory of a third country.

The idea is in using the existing one, since this time-proved and very effective radar allows to scan any launches from the Near and Middle East, i.e. where appearance of new missiles is possible," Kislyak added, RIA "Novosti" reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during the final press conference after the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany offered his American counterpart to share the use of the Gabala radar station, which Russia leases from Azerbaijan. In his part Bush said that Russia and the United States have agreed to hold a strategic dialog over the missile defense problem with participation of military experts and diplomats.