The dawn of a new era for NATO-Russia ties at the Lisbon Summit
LISBON, Portugal — NATO leaders, its member-countries presidents and the Russian leadership have all hailed the Lisbon Summit as a major historic breakthrough in their rocky, roller-coaster bilateral relations.
The breakthrough, hailed as a ‘reset’ of ties by U.S. President Barack Obama and ‘a new milestone’ and ‘a turn towards mutual trust’ in bilateral relations by NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen, became possible after the military alliance had officially acknowledged in its new Strategic Concept that it longer views Moscow as its potential enemy, but rather as a key strategic partner in joint international actions targeting modern challenges in regional and global politics.
From his side, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attributed the breakthrough to the ‘unprecedented candidness’ displayed by partners at the negotiations tables in the Portuguese capital. “We told each other all what we have always had in mind, but were afraid to air openly, and this candidness has now enabled us to look at the future with new optimism.”
This positive change of attitudes on both sides helped ensure fundamental achievements at the summit, as Moscow and NATO cemented several strategic agreements in different spheres of bilateral interactions, including non-proliferation of weapons of mass destructions, wars on international terrorism, narcotrafficking, sea piracy, etc. Similarly, the NATO and Russian leaderships have declared their intents on how to reach workable consensuses on sticky issues, where they still have some differences, such as the issue of construction and deployment of anti-nuclear attacks shields.
Thus, commenting on the alliance’s about turn on Russia, Rasmussen noted that the Lisbon Summit marks a turn towards more trust, closer cooperation and more vital joint actions with Moscow within the frameworks of the NATO-Russia Council. “This is why I have called this summit ‘a turning point,’ because I believe that by improving relations with Russia, we can find the right ways to resolve other key issues, including the conflict between Russia and Georgia.”
Airing a similar sentiment, Obama noted that the Cold War era has ended, adding that it would be impermissible error to undermine all the ongoing agreements with Moscow because of mutual mistrust. “The Cold War is over and, therefore, it is in our best interests to work and cooperate with Russia on all relevant issues, including the reduction of nuclear arsenals.”
Speaking on Russia’s conditions for participating in a joint Russia-NATO anti-nuclear attacks shied deployment, Medvedev noted that Moscow’s participation should be based on an absolute partnership parity basis. “We either participate in a full exchange information and data and be equally involved and responsible for all issues or we don't participate at all. And, if we are not involved in this program, then for obvious reasons we shall be forced to protect ourselves.”
By Chris Kenneth
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