MOSCOW (AP) - President Vladimir Putin on Monday called the new Russia-NATO Council, to be inaugurated at a key summit Tuesday, Russia's latest contribution to international security.
Putin's comments came the day after he wrapped up a summit with U.S. President George W. Bush that produced a landmark nuclear arms control deal seen as the latest sign of warming relations between Russia and the West.
The agreement Putin is to sign at an Italian air force base Tuesday with the 19 NATO leaders "is a very important document that will change the quality of relations between Russia and NATO," he said in remarks shown on Russian television stations.
"It will be an extra contribution of Russia to international security," he said.
Also Monday, NATO opened its long-delayed military mission in Moscow, with the chairman of NATO's military committee, Guido Venturioni, and the first deputy head of Russia's General Staff, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, cutting the ribbons on the new office.
The new Russia-NATO Council is intended to give Russia an equal say in formulating policy on fighting terrorism and some European security issues. The agreement comes after years of tension between Russia and NATO over the alliance's expansion to the east to include former Soviet satellite states, which Moscow views as a threat.
Venturioni said Monday in Moscow that the agreement is "a historic step forward," according to the Interfax news agency.
Despite the warm words, Baluyevsky, was cautious Monday in his reception of Ukraine's recent announcement that it intends to seek NATO membership.
"It is logical that Ukraine intends to expand contacts with NATO," he was quoted by Interfax as saying. But he added, "We would not like any country that enters NATO to pose a threat to Russia's security."
"Russia's immediate neighbors have no reason to fear any threats. But we have always defended and will defend our national territory," he said.
Putin's strong support for the U.S.-led anti-terrorism campaign is credited with helping pave the way for the Russia-NATO agreement and the U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control deal.