Anders Fogh-NATO & Russia a new beginning

Former Danish PM and new Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his first major speech at Carnegie Endowment-a think tank on Russia has said that after taking over, NATO-Russia relations holds greater potential than its relationship with partner nations. He believes that the relationship should reinforce practical cooperation,build confidence and trust and should review security challenges that the world faces. 20 years after the cold war the divide between East and West still remains. Anders is of the opinion that the enlargement of NATO and EU has infact strengthened the security of Russia and not created a threat. But there are many who think otherwise. Russia is still a major player in the world when it comes to security and weapons. They might have lost the old Soviet glory, by losing control over many of its erstwhile terrorities that have declared independence, but Russia is a might by itself that cannot be ignored. Otherwise why would the US back out of a missile plan that Bush wanted to go ahead with be shelved by the new administration? That missle plan would have simply heightened the tensions in Europe. Anders's view is that there should more cooperation between NATO and Russia on missle defence, fighting Al Qaeda, WMD, Afghanistan, maritime security. There are lots of misunderstandings which are fundamental in nature that will not just go away overnight You would invariably find Russia on the other side of the problem when there is a global problem. Probably thats the phenomenon called 'who is mightier'.Cooperation is the only way to build that trust and by involving Russia as a partner in resolving European and International security issues. There is certainly a long way to go but Anders has surely started out on the right note. Way to go Anders.