Mr. Clinton should listen carefully to any new Russian proposal.

The aim of the Russian proposal is to inhibit the alliance from taking in new members.

In addition, a Russian proposal was also issued.

And so this was also the case for the Russian proposals.

Nikonenko responded there was already a similar paper on this issue from 1998 and the Russian proposal was 100 percent political.

"There is no compromise new Russian proposal," he said.

"The Russian proposal is the last best chance of resolving this without an escalation."

A person close to the negotiations today said American officials gave a "largely positive" reaction to the Russian proposals.

But officials clearly fear that the Russian proposal is intended to slow that process.

They supported the Russian proposal of an international conference in the Ottoman capital.