December 8, 2001	Saturday	Ramazan 22, 1422

BRUSSELS: The Nato alliance has decided to bring Russia more deeply into some of its planning and decision-making, but stressed that Moscow would hold no policy veto.

In a meeting on Thursday, Nato foreign ministers approved creation of a new council consisting of the 19 alliance members and Russia, with the goal of fostering cooperation in tasks such as fighting terrorism, promoting arms control and peacekeeping.

This formulation represented a compromise between countries, in particular Britain, that have sought to integrate Moscow more closely into the West and former communist states in Eastern Europe that remain wary of Russia’s intentions, preferring to keep it at a distance.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the council would “enhance our partnership with Russia, to build a more open, cooperative and confident relationship that reflects the values and interests we share with Russia ... This is an opportunity for Nato and Russia to improve qualitatively the way we work together.” Powell made clear the United States would not allow Russian participation to tie the alliance’s hands.

The new body will replace one called the Permanent Joint Council, which was established four years ago with a similar goal of removing tensions left from the Cold War but instead became entangled in political recriminations.

One point of potential friction with Russia will be Nato’s intention to enlarge the alliance eastward next year. Nato has decided to accept at least one more member from among nine applicant countries, but has not yet made a selection. Russia has objected in particular to admitting Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia, which were formerly part of the Soviet Union. —Dawn/The Washington Post News Service.