George Bush: setting up of a Russia-NATO council is a historical achievement

The setting up of a Russia-NATO Council is a historical achievement for Russia and for countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, said US President George W.Bush at the Russia-NATO summit held at the Italian military base of Pratica Di Mare. He praised the fact that all those nations were together again after decades of being apart.

"The new Russia is building freedom on its land," went on the US president. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 showed that not one single country /including Russia/ was safe from new terrorist threats, said Bush, adding that the countries had finally joined their efforts to retaliate against those threats.

NATO and Russia can be proud of having achieved peace and stability in the Balkans and facing a prospect of cooperating in an all-continent anti-missile defence, continued Bush. He called on the assembly to be practical and move on step by step, and said he hoped today's achievement would open up new vistas for a safer century.