NATO Attempts to Ease Tension

In a gesture to ease tension between Moscow and the NATO nations, NATO Chief Jaap de Hoop Schefferis has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a NATO summit in June. The NATO invitation will come as the alliance prepares to welcome seven ex-communist countries into its ranks next month, a move long opposed by Russia.

"President Putin will be invited at the end of March to attend the NATO summit in Istanbul scheduled for June 28-29," said De Hoop Scheffer, stressing that he wants "very good and very constructive relations" with Moscow. "I will do everything I can to ensure that the partnership with Russia is as strong as possible, he added.

Relations between NATO and Russia have been tense lately, notably ahead of an April 2nd ceremony to formally welcome seven former communist countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria) into the alliance.