USA hints Yushchenko that it is not necessary to take into account public opinion while joining NATO
To take a decision on Ukraine’s NATO membership, it is not necessary o conduct a general referendum, as there are other ways of expressing the will of the people. The statement was made today by US Senator Richard Lugar, who is visiting Kiev, Ukraine, a REGNUM correspondent informs.
The US senator also noted that a letter sent to the NATO Secretary-General saying about willingness to join the partnership action plan would only start a wide discussion both in Ukraine and other countries, and positive or negative aspects of possible joining would be discussed long. “The Ukrainian leadership has decided it would ask for joining the plan, while it comprehends that it is a wide discussion that can be completed within months or even years,” Lugar said. However, he failed to answer a question about possible date of Ukraine entering NATO. He explained that it is necessary that other NATO member-countries give their consent, while some of the countries can think of the issue from the point of view of their relations with Russia and, probably, some of them could see potential for destabilization in Ukraine’s joining NATO.
At the same time, Lugar noted that if the Ukrainian support he idea at a general referendum, the decision would be backed by the US president whoever it is.
14:58 01/16/2008
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