Tentative Inspection Program Would Allow Russia to Visit U.S. Nuclear Sites

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian news agencies are quoting a top Russian diplomat as suggesting the U.S. should not talk with non-NATO nations about a prospective missile shield.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov's remarks appeared to reflect alarm over the idea that neighbors such as Ukraine or Georgia could potentially host U.S. missile defense facilities.

State-run RIA Novosti and ITAR-Tass cite Ryabkov as saying Russia has "concerns" about what he called U.S. contacts on missile defense with countries outside NATO.

President Barack Obama has removed a major irritant in relations with Russia by scrapping U.S. plans to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.

But Russian officials say they want to know details about what system the U.S. will put in place instead.