NATO Head: Russia Won't Decide For Ukraine On Atlantic Alliance

KIEV, Ukraine -- NATO members and Ukraine's populace, not Russia, will decide whether Ukraine should join the Atlantic Alliance, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer declared Monday during a visit to Kiev.

Ukrainian riot police on Monday blocking anti-NATO demonstrators rallying in Kiev against Ukraine's efforts to join NATO.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Scheffer did not mention Russia by name, but nonetheless both made clear that NATO rejected recent statements by Russian politicians arguing Ukrainian membership in NATO would threaten regional security, and that Moscow should oppose the idea.

"Nobody can make this decision (about joining NATO) for Ukraine," Scheffer said. "NATO is made up of 26 countries and only representatives of the alliance can take decisions about Ukraine's joining NATO."

Yushchenko claimed his government's efforts on fast-tracking a membership accession programme for Ukraine into NATO "are not aimed at Russia or any one else ... but are motivated by an essential quest for national security."

The meetings between Yushchenko and Scheffer according to participants focused on steps Ukraine's government must take to be offered a step-by-step procedure by NATO so as eventually to join the alliance, and on increased military cooperation between Kiev and Brussels.

Ukraine though not a member currently is contributing troops to all NATO peacekeeping operations worldwide - albeit marginally in the case of Afghanistan where only three Ukrainian service personnel are deployed.

The former Soviet republic with heavy cargo aircraft and air transit corridors nonetheless provides substantial assistance to the air supply effort to NATO's combat operations in Afghanistan.

Ukraine in addition intends to contribute fighting forces to a NATO quick reaction combat element intended to travel to world hot spots on short notice, Yushchenko said.

"This is critical proof of the seriousness of our intentions (eventually to join NATO)," Yushchenko said. "This fact shows that Ukraine is demonstrating its position not just as a consumer, but ... a perhaps unique contributor to world security."

Other recent expansions to Ukrainian cooperation with the alliance include a Ukraine air force helicopter modernisation programme, and flight crew training to NATO standards, in cooperation with Britian and France, according to a Yushchenko staff statement cited by Interfax.

A small anti-NATO demonstration of some 500 persons protested peacefully approximately a half-kilometre from the Scheffer- Yushchenko meeting venue in Kiev, as police cordons prevented marchers from approaching closer.

Yushchenko's pro-West government has in recent months intensified its efforts to obtain an offer from NATO to begin an accession programme, despite reservations by some of NATO's larger members, and lukewarm support by Ukraine's population.

Ukraine's goal is to receive the NATO offer "by the end of the present year," Yushchenko said.

Source: DPA