A new era for NATO

CNN is reporting that NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have signed an agreement that will allow joint military exercises and eventually a joint military capability between the alliance and its former adversary.

The agreement marks a historic point for the Alliance that was originally established to counter the Soviet threat.

CNN also reports that during the NATO-Russia Council this week, talks will be held on turning the trans-Atlantic alliance into the primary venue for political dialogue on international issues, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and democratic reform in the Middle East.

This is a noble goal.

However, we cannot forget that democratic reforms must progress in Eastern Europe itself. NATO members must continue to support our new friends in Eastern Europe and work to promote further democratization throughout the region, including Russia itself.