Medvedev: European security treaty 'to end Cold War legacy'

Medvedev's proposal will help the world "finally get rid of the legacy of the Cold War," the Kremlin said in a statement accompanying the release of the seven-page draft document. Medvedev began pushing the treaty in mid-2008 and intensified his efforts after the Russia-Georgia war, but most Western countries have been cool to the idea and some European officials have said it was lacking in detail.

He said that during the Georgia-Russia conflict "we were very close to the situation in which a local armed conflict was capable of growing into a large-scale war. "In order for this not to be repeated, there's a need for precise, workable mechanisms of the realization of the principle of the non-divisibility of security," said Medvedev. "Principles of non-divisibility of security should become an integral part of the modern international law. We are all hoping that the Cold War is behind us, but the world has not become safer," he added. Medvedev has been trying to sell the idea of an overarching security pact to Europe and the U.S. since he took office in May 2008, but has met a lukewarm reception. Western leaders have politely expressed interest, but asked for more details and warned there is no need to replace existing security arrangements.

Countries that sign the treaty "shall not undertake, participate in or support any actions or activities affecting significantly (the) security of any other Party or Parties to the Treaty," the document reads. Nor shall they allow their territory to be used for an attack or "any other actions significantly affecting (the) security of any other Party." Russian officials have said the proposal is not meant to weaken or replace NATO, which was created after World War II to counter the Soviet Union. But the draft is unlikely to ease Western concerns that the pact could significantly bolster Russia's influence when trust is still frayed by its invasion of Georgia and its recognition of two Moscow-backed separatist regions in Georgia as independent nations. A Kremlin statement said the goal of the proposal is "to create a single, indivisible space in the sphere of military-political security in the Euro-Atlantic (region), in order to be through with the Cold War for good," the statement said.

The draft treaty did not, however, define what sort of activities could be considered as "significantly" affecting national security. Russia has complained repeatedly in recent years about moves to bring U.S. and NATO military forces into former communist countries, such as a now-scrapped Pentagon plan to build a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia also condemned NATO military exercises carried out earlier this year in Georgia, a sworn enemy of Russia since their August 2008 war. Medvedev's draft treaty stresses the role of the United Nations, saying that the U.N. Security Council, on which Russia has a permanent seat, "bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and stability."

Carolina Vendil-Pallin, Russia expert at the Swedish Defence Research Agency in Stockholm, said Europe would likely not rush to sign a new agreement with Russia and would not be interested in replacing current treaties with a deal that covers only security. "I find it very hard to believe that Europe would separate hard security from economic relations and human rights," she told The Associated Press. "Europe is in no hurry with this because Europe isn't dissatisfied with the current architecture."

Analysts said the West could use the proposal to engage Russia on a broader range of issues. "I think it should be seen as a step in the process," Vendil-Pallin said. "There are plenty of reasons to negotiate." It was unclear exactly when the draft was sent to other nations, and there was no immediate response from Western governments. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street office said it could not immediately comment.

Compiled from the AP and AFP stories by Daily News staff.