Leaders welcome Russia-NATO treaty

Putin and Bush have also signed a nuclear arms reduction treaty

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- World leaders have welcomed an agreement by which NATO formally accepted its old enemy, Russia, as a junior partner.

Nineteen NATO leaders and the president of Russia signed the Rome Declaration on Tuesday, officially creating a new NATO-Russia Council and marking a new era of co-operation between the former foes.

"Welcome to the world of 20," NATO Secretary-General George Robertson told Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The NATO-Russia council will establish policy on a range of issues, including counter-terrorism, regional emergencies and arms control.

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Russia had entered a less formal arrangement with NATO in 1997 -- the 19-plus-one Permanent Joint Council -- but the new treaty gives Russia more say in crisis management, peacekeeping and military areas such as air defence, search-and-rescue operations and joint exercises.

NATO and Moscow will decide only on those issues on which they can find consensus -- while NATO will consider more contentious issues alone.

"We understand perfectly well the changing relationship of Russia which has been expressed very clearly today in this very important act," Putin said.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Burlusconi said the agreement was "truly historic."

"This new council at 20 is a driver for peace, stability, democracy and for freedom for the whole of the world," he said.

"The responsibility and the credit for today's meeting, which by any measure is historic, lies with the president of the United States," Roberston said.

"He took an opportunity ... the unique co-operation that happened after September 11, and made it into something that looks to the future. That is the base for future cooperation with what were the former adversaries."

Bush, in turn, praised Robertson.

"I want to thank Lord Robertson for such great leadership," Bush said. "He recognises that Europe whole and free and at peace is an important goal, and one that will be more likely to be achieved for years to come, by welcoming Russia west.

"Because of his vision and his hard work today, we're signing a document that does just that."

Robertson and Bush called for increased military spending among the NATO allies, mostly to modernise weapons systems.

Robertson told reporters he also believed it was critical that the United States share technology with its European allies to close a technology gap between the United States and many of its allies.

Analysts say the impetus for the new relationship between Russia and NATO came largely from Putin, who has changed his outspoken opposition to NATO spreading eastwards, taking in former Warsaw Pact members, to a mutual understanding.

NATO plans to add seven or eight new members from the former communist world later this year.

NATO members approved the new NATO-Russia council shortly after convening on Tuesday at the Pratica di Mare military air base, Europe's second largest.

"Today marks an historic achievement for a great alliance and a great European nation," said Bush. "Two former foes are now joined as partners overcoming 50 years of division and a decade of uncertainty."

"The significance of this meeting is difficult to overestimate," Putin said.

"Even only a short time ago, a meeting of this type bringing together the leaders of Russia and NATO member states, especially bearing in mind the format in which we meet today and its quality, would have been simply unthinkable."

Bush met Pope John Paul II on Tuesday before heading home to Washington at the end of a week-long trip that has also taken him to Germany, Russia and France. (Full story)

During his trip to Moscow Bush signed a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Putin which will reduce the number of warheads by two-thirds. (Full story)

Italy had imposed tight security for the meeting, fearing militants may try to target the first gathering of NATO leaders since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. (Full story)

A Sudan Air flight flying on a regularly authorised path from Cairo to Paris was intercepted on Tuesday by two Italian fighter jets after it failed to respond to calls by civil air traffic controllers in Rome, Italian air force officials said.

Authorities do not believe the Sudan Air jet posed any threat, saying it appeared the radio may not have been working. (Full story)