NATO was slow to realize that its enlargement to the east would not be successful without the active participation of Russia in the development of a Euro-Atlantic security architecture. The "NATO- Russia Founding Act," signed in Paris on 27 May, marks the beginning of a better understanding of Russia's legitimate security concerns and should, hopefully, form the basis of an enduring NATO-Russia partnership. The signing of the Act does not mean... that a difference of policy and outlook between NATO and Russia will automatically disappear, particularly on the future enlargement of NATO.