| http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3SOIQV71D&live=true&tagid=ZZZAFZAVA0C&reutr=1&subheading=europe Nato and Russia establish new partnership By Judy Dempsey in Reykjavik Published: May 14 2002 15:44 | Last Updated: May 15 2002 08:53 Nato and Russia agreed to establish a new partnership on Tuesday, ending decades of mistrust between the former cold war enemies. The agreement gives Russia a bigger voice in Nato discussions on a range of topics, including terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Russian diplomats will now have a place in the western alliance's Brussels headquarters. Lord Robertson, Nato secretary-general, described the deal to create a new Nato-Russia Council as "historic". Sergei Ivanov, Russian defence minister, on Tuesday night said the NRC "is a mechanism for equal co-operation among 20 nations, acting in their national capacities". Joschka Fischer, German foreign minister, said it was "an historic chance for the beginning of a real inclusion of Russia into the transatlantic relationship". "This is the funeral of the cold war. It marks a profound, historical change," said Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary. But Colin Powell, US secretary of state, was more muted in his assessment. "We believe it will lay a foundation for co-operation with Russia while fully respecting that Nato can act independently," he said. The agreement comes a day after Washington and Moscow agreed to cut the number of nuclear warheads on both sides by two-thirds over the next decade. That drew praise from Nato foreign ministers meeting in Reykjavik. Under the new agreement the Russian delegation will have it own offices in Nato "with a name on the door", said one UK diplomat. The NRC is an idea suggested by Tony Blair, British prime minister, last November. A deal was clinched after squabbling over whether to retain the current Nato-Russian permanent joint council. The Russians hope the PJC - which will be "dormant" - will serve as a reminder of the extent to which Tuesday's agreement enhances Moscow's role. Vladimir Putin, Russian president, and Nato heads of state will crown the relationship at a summit in two weeks. But US and European diplomats say the NRC will only work if Nato can give Mr Putin some tangible benefits. A Nato official said: "Putin has to get his own defence ministry, still suspicious of Nato, to recognise such co-operation with Nato would not be seen as a threat." |
