Nato embraces 'Russian bear'

Nato, an alliance set up more than a half century ago for the Cold War containment of Moscow, formally accepted its old enemy as a junior partner today.

"Two former foes are now joined as partners," President George Bush said as 19 Nato partners and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement creating a new NATO–Russia Council.

"We have come a long way from confrontation to dialogue, and from confrontation to cooperation," President Putin said in accepting the new role.

Under the new arrangement, Russia will have more authority in the new body than in an earlier, less formal arrangement set up several years ago to try to nudge Moscow closer to the West.

Even so, its future involvement will be limited to certain areas. They include crisis management, peacekeeping and such military areas as air defence, search–and–rescue operations and joint exercises.

"The significance of this meeting is difficult to overestimate," President Putin said earlier, noting that a few years ago, such a role for Russia "would have been, simply, unthinkable, whereas today it has become a reality."

"Being realists, we must remember that relations between Russia and the North Atlantic alliance have been historically far from straightforward," Putin said. Even though Russia was not admitted as a full partner and has a limited role, "we must understand this Rome Declaration ... is only a beginning," he said.

Leader after leader cited September 11, and the lingering terror threat, as a catalyst for new cohesion and determination among NATO members. "The attacks ... made clear that the new dangers of our age threaten all nations, including Russia," President Bush said. "The months since have made clear that by working together against these threats, we multiply our effectiveness."

Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson, who will be chairman of the new council, opened the session, declaring: "This gathering represents the hope of a better, saner future."

He said he considers the council a real breakthrough and expressed hope that it would "not just deliberate but take decisive actions. ...There is a common enemy out there."