The Clinton administration has a lot riding on a Putin victory and has been heartened by his remarks about the need to integrate Russia with the West.

Membership in the trade organization has been part of Mr. Putin's plan to integrate Russia into the global economy and promote growth at home.

"They also emphasized how it's consistent with the broader objective of integrating Russia into the international community."

And that means attracting foreign investment, integrating Russia into the world economy and maintaining correct, if not close, relations with the West.

It includes economic aid and trade and defence agreements in line with the long-term aim of integrating Russia into the EC.

Integrating Russia into the evolving European security structure advances that goal.

Mr. Rumsfeld lost the battle, but his intervention delayed the debate over how to integrate Russia into the alliance.

The effort to integrate Russia into Western institutions, she added, " is going to be an enormous win for international peace and security."

This can be done by integrating Russia in European cooperation as far as possible.

In this "era of new partnerships" we must "integrate Russia, China, India, the Arab world, African countries and others."