"Several people representing the United States, briefing their NATO partners, have given the impression that all of Russia's problems have been resolved," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.

"I very clearly told (US Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice that this is not the case," he said.

At a meeting earlier this month between Russian President Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush in the southern Russian resort of Sochi, Moscow "agreed that we would discuss the transparency measures that the Americans proposed," Lavrov was quoted as saying.

"These measures require agreement... and we might have our own additions to these measures."

"Only in this case, if we reach agreement on these measures, our concerns might be softened," Lavrov said.

However, "so far what we hear does not allow us to say that (the Czech Republic and Poland) are ready to agree to the measures we were offered by the US officials, such as a permanent Russian presence at these bases," Lavrov said.

The US military hopes to establish a limited anti-missile shield comprising 10 interceptors in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic.

Moscow has dismissed US claims to be setting up the shield against emerging military powers such as Iran, saying that the system could be used against Russia.

related report
US Czech radar base negotiations in final phase
Czech and US negotiators hope to wrap up an agreement this week covering conditions for American staff to be based at an anti-missile radar base in the former Soviet bloc country, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

"Negotiations resumed on Tuesday and we hope this will be the final round. That is a completely realistic assessment," ministry spokesman Andrej Cirtek told AFP.

Talks on conditions for US servicemen at the planned station have lagged behind the main diplomatic deal between the two NATO allies.

Washington wants to use the radar base together with interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland to defend against any possible attack by "rogue" states such as Iran.

The two sides announced a diplomatic deal on the radar at the NATO summit in Bucharest this month. It is expected to be signed by US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice at the start of May and must then be approved by the Czech parliament for the radar station to be installed by 2011-2013.

Tax issues are a sticking point in remaining negotiations on US servicemen's conditions. "Whether suppliers selling services to the radar base will be subject to tax is one of the questions," said Cirtek.

The question has also to be settled whether US servicemen will pay the Czech television licence fee or not, he added.

A separate issue to be resolved is whether Russian observers should be permitted at the Czech radar station.

Washington has made an offer for Russian officials to have access to the sites in the Czech Republic and Poland to ease Moscow's hostility to the anti-missile shield. Moscow insists the US facilities are a threat to its security.

Czech politicians have loudly criticised the idea of a permanent Russian presence in a country where memories remain fresh of Soviet communist domination, especially the 1968 Soviet-led intervention to end the "Prague Spring" of reform Communist Alexander Dubcek, and restore Soviet-style orthodox Communist rule.

The Czechs insist only direct talks between Prague and Moscow can pave the way for Russian observers to visit the radar station.

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