NATO….

Hardliners in Russia’s military lost a battle to block a Moscow visit by NATO Secretary-General George Robertson. Hawkish General Leonid Ivashov said on February 15 that NATO had not done enough for Russia to justify the visit. As late as February 16, a top general staff officer, General Valery Manilov, said the visit had been postponed. But on February 17, there was Robertson in Moscow, telling reporters that “Mr. Putin … made it clear that the resumption of the relationship between Russia and NATO was a decision of his.” Russia, which broke off relations with NATO at the beginning of the air campaign against Yugoslavia, will resume participation in the Permanent Joint Council, where it consults with NATO members.