NUUK, Greenland, Aug 23 (AFP) - Greenland wants to hear Russia's point of view on the United States' controversial nuclear missile defence (NMD) shield, a top official said after holding talks on the issue with a top US official.

"We are convinced that it is essential to listen to what Russia has to say on the question, and a different point of view to that of Washington," said Maliianguaq Marcussen Moelgaard, of the far-left party Inuit Ataqatigiitand head of the country's parliamentary commission on foreign policy and security.

"We firmly stand by the government's declaration last November which stipulated that Greenland would not accept the NMD project if it violated the ABM treaty signed in 1972 between Russia and the US and if it opens the way for a new 'Cold War' which we will be the victims of," she said.

Russia is vehemently opposed to the NMD project, which it says would violate the terms of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty. Together with China, Moscow sees it as a direct threat to their nuclear deterrent capabilities.

Moelgaard described the visit by John Holum, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, to the semi-automous Danish province as a "charm offensive" during which no new information on the shield was given.

"The only new thing perhaps is that the Americans are no longer speaking of the NMD as a system of national defence, but that it could be used for a large part of the world," Moelgaard said.

She went on to say that the Russian ambassador to Denmark was due in Nuuk next week to give Moscow's point of view on the US project in which Washington's radar situated at Thule on the northwest of the island was a vital element.

The US base at Thule, set up in 1951, would provide a key link in the NMD plan should it be deployed, but would require substantial modernisation and development.

Before leaving for the base on Wednesday morning, Holum said: "The Thule radar is very important for NMD to warn and track. It is our eyes and ears. The radar will track missiles for instance from Iraq and the Middle East."

He added that the system built for the defence of the United States could "on a smaller scale be used for the defence of our allies in Europe and in the longer term by Russia".

"I expect that (US President) Bill Clinton will make the decision to start the construction in Alaska very soon. The reason is that for the building to be finished in 2005, the work has to start next summer due to the short construction period in this Arctic region," said Holum.

The Danish government, which is responsible for Greenland's foreign affairs, security and defence, has not yet taken a position on the NMD project.