Most Ukrainian Experts Polled Want Ukraine To Join NATO

KIEV, Ukraine -- Most Ukrainian journalists, analysts, and government officials polled by the Democratic Initiatives survey center support Ukraine's accession to NATO.


A poll of 147 respondents, including 91 journalists, 44 analysts, and 12 government officials, which the Democratic Initiatives conducted at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry request on December 4-15, 2006 showed that 130 of them support Ukraine's accession to NATO, and 82 of them believe this should be done as soon as possible.

The respondents were also invited to share their views on the ongoing information campaign regarding NATO membership.

Most experts were of the view that the efforts toward persuading the Ukrainian people of NATO membership's advantages are not efficient enough, unlike the anti-NATO propaganda.

The experts suggested that, as regards Ukraine's accession to NATO, the people are more concerned about economic implications of this step, the influence that it could have on ordinary people's living standards, and its possible effects for relations with Russia.

At the same time, they said, the people's attitudes toward NATO membership depend in large part on consolidation on this issue within the political elite and on how clearly NATO formulates its position regarding Ukraine's possible membership.

Source: Interfax