DATE=5/14/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-289799

TITLE=NATO UPDATE (S)

BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON

DATELINE=REYKJAVIK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: NATO foreign ministers, meeting in Iceland, have approved a landmark agreement whereby the alliance and Russia will establish a joint council to deal with terrorist and other security threats. V-O-A correspondent Roger Wilkison reports the accord comes after Russia and the United States agreed to sharply cut back their nuclear arsenals and is seen as marking a new era in relations between former foes.

TEXT: Under the new arrangement, Russia will sit as an equal with the 19 NATO allies when they discuss common security threats, such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The deal is a result of Russia's support for the West following the September terrorist attacks against the United States.

NATO officials say the new accord will not give Russia a veto over NATO decisions.

The first meeting of the joint council will be held in two weeks, at a summit near Rome to be attended by all NATO leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The foreign ministers also confirmed NATO's plans to bring in new members from Eastern Europe later this year. And they agreed to modernize NATO's military capabilities to respond to evolving threats.

U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell urged the NATO allies to increase defense spending to close the transatlantic gap in military capabilities. But European officials say there is little political will in their countries to boost defense outlays. (signed)

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