(Adds further Russian quotes and further details)
By Jan Lopatka
PRAGUE, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will not allow Russian soldiers to be stationed at a planned U.S. radar base in the country but might permit Russian inspections, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Thursday.
His comments came after the Kremlin cautiously welcomed a package of U.S. proposals that include possible Russian inspections. Separate talks between Russia and NATO countries on the shield in the Netherlands on Thursday failed to overcome Russia's objections but were described as constructive.
U.S. Defense Minister Robert Gates touched a raw nerve during his visit to Prague this week when he said Russians might be allowed to have a presence at the radar base which would be part of a planned U.S. missile defence shield.
"Of course there will be no Russian soldiers here, and there were never supposed to be," Topolanek said on Czech Television.
"If we allow (inspections) during the construction, and possibly during the operation as well, there would be inspection days by the Russian Federation, and that is an issue I think that even the opposition would allow," he said.
The idea of a Russian military presence on Czech soil angered a number of lawmakers who said parliament would very likely reject any such deal.
"A Russian soldier was an occupier," said Jan Vidim, head of the lower house defence committee.
The Czechs, who were invaded by Warsaw Pact armies led by the Soviet Union in 1968, are sensitive about any foreign military presence in the country, especially Russian.
The planned shield is aimed at intercepting missiles from what Washington calls "rogue states" such as North Korea and Iran, and has sparked a row between Washington and Moscow.
U.S. officials have acknowledged their diplomacy on the issue, which has also sparked tensions in NATO, has been clumsy, but have sought to show greater transparency.
Gates said no offer about a Russian presence at the radar site would be made to Moscow without prior Czech consent.
In a further attempt to appease Russia, the United States has proposed not to activate the radar until there was a proven threat, such as a missile test by Iran.
Russia argues the shield would hurt its interests and the real aim is to track Russian territory.
Sergei Yastrzhembsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin's chief adviser on EU-Russia relations, said on Wednesday the new U.S. proposals were "interesting finds" but needed more study.
There was no change in the Russian view at talks in the Netherlands on Thursday where Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov met NATO counterparts including Gates.
"We are keeping our position," Serdyukov told reporters afterwards, adding: "It seems to me that the Americans are starting to realise our concerns and we welcome that."
NATO allies are studying whether to add components to the U.S. shield so it covers the whole of Europe. There is agreement in the alliance that there is a threat from ballistic missiles but a divergence over how imminent that threat is. (Additional reporting by Mark John in Noordwijk) ((editing by Alison Williams; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474))
Keywords: SHIELD MISSILE/CZECH
