Top NATO and Russian officials on Tuesday praised the spirit of cooperation between
Moscow and the Western alliance as the newly formed NATO-Russia Council met for
the first time in the Russian capital.
NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson and President Vladimir Putin said the need
for unity, particularly in the fight against terrorism, was amplified by recent
bombing attacks in Chechnya and Saudi Arabia.
"The criminal killers who were responsible for the explosions in both countries
have united the world in outrage and have united the NATO-Russia Council in the
determination that we must press on with our historic task," Robertson said at
a Kremlin meeting with Putin.(*)
"The signature in both places is absolutely identical," said Putin, who is eager
to portray Russia's fight against rebels as part of the international campaign
against terrorism.
How many suicide bombings will be necessary to convince these gentlemen that there
is no military or intelligence solution to the problem, but that the solution
can only be a political one together with that Chechen leadership that has since
long condemned any form of terrorism and appeals for peace talks?