MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - The Russian-U.S. dialogue on missile defense is becoming increasingly specific, despite remaining disagreements, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Merkel said.

The two countries are discussing increasingly concrete issues, finding more and more mutual understanding, the U.S. diplomat said in an interview with the Gazeta newspaper, published on Wednesday.

Missile defense is a very important issue, he said. It was discussed at the Bucharest summit and the U.S. will continue following the chosen course, he also said. The U.S. will discuss with Russia everything that causes logical concern, he said. The system will not become offensive, the missile shield will not impact the Russian deterrence system and it is not targeted against Russia, Merkel said.

Asked whether change was possible in Russian-U.S. relations depending on who becomes the next U.S. president, Merkel said that the observance of the strategic declaration, signed in Sochi by presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush in April will allow the United States and Russia to work jointly on the issues which do not arouse disagreements, and to openly discuss aspects on which no agreement has been reached.