'Secretary Gates also said he and Secretary Rice asked the Russians if increased transparency about the purpose and operations of the anti-missile system might ease their concerns, perhaps including sending Russian observers the sites. He said he discussed that with Czech officials on Tuesday.
"I also made clear in my conversations this morning that if we were to explore measures of transparency with the Russians such as having a presence here in the Czech Republic or in Poland at these sites, that we would carry these proposals first to the Czech government, and that nothing would be done without the consent of the Czech government," he said.'
