NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Photo: Reuters
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Russia Cannot Stop Ukraine from Joining NATO
Russian cannot stop Georgia and Ukraine from becoming members of NATO, that organization's secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, declared. However, Russia's may be a serious impediment to their receiving the status of candidates for membership. Scheffer noted that Moscow's objections will only draw out the membership process for the former Soviet bloc countries.
“In my opinion, it is not a matter of whether, but when,” the secretary general told Associated Press, referring to Ukraine and Georgia's membership in the alliance.
U.S. President George W. Bush made a statement in support of Ukraine's membership, and said that the decision on the countries' membership has been made in principle. He said that the countries' applications, rather than their membership, will be discussed at NATO summit in Bucharest.
Georgia and Ukraine had hoped to receive membership action plans at the Bucharest summit. Russia is strongly opposed to the expansion of NATO, considering it a threat to its security. A number of NATO member states, including Germany, France and The Netherlands, are opposed to Georgia's membership. The United States is lobbying for Georgia's interests, however. The majority of Ukrainian citizens oppose that country's entry into the military alliance.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
