PARIS, Nov 7: The French presidency of the European Union expressed “strong concern” on Friday over a Russian plan to station new missiles near Poland’s border.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced on Wednesday that Moscow would deploy missiles in its western outpost of Kaliningrad in response to US plans to station an anti-missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

“The presidency of the European Union council expresses its strong concern after the announcement by President Medvedev of the deployment of a complex of Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad,” the presidency said in a statement.

“This announcement does not contribute to the establishment of a climate of trust and to the improvement of security in Europe, at a time when we wish for a dialogue with Russia on questions of security in the whole of the continent,” it said.The Bush administration says its missile shield aims to protect its European allies against possible attack by “rogue states”, particularly Iran, and by terrorist groups. Moscow views the system as a direct threat to its national security.

The dispute comes ahead of a Nov 14 summit between Russia and the 27-nation EU in the French city of Nice. The EU froze talks on a new partnership pact with Moscow after Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war in August.

Talks with Russia: The Bush administration wants talks with Russia soon on proposals to limit strategic nuclear warheads and address Moscow’s concerns about a US missile shield in Europe, a senior US official said on Thursday.

With just over two months left in the Bush administration, acting under secretary of state for arms control, John Rood, told reporters: “We are looking forward to a robust dialogue with the Russians.”

US relations with Russia plunged to a post-Cold War low during George W. Bush’s presidency, especially after the Russian military intervention in US ally Georgia in August.

Moscow says selfish U.S. foreign policy sparked the war in Georgia.

Rood said he was working to schedule a date to discuss the US proposals with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, probably in Moscow. “We are planning to meet in the near term, in the next couple of weeks.”

But one US arms control expert said the Bush administration, which leaves office on Jan 20, was running out of both the time and influence it needs to strike an arms deal.

The Russians “will wait and see what the next administration (of President-elect Barack Obama) has to offer,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association.

Washington sent Moscow a proposal more than two weeks ago.—Reuters