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 19 July 2008 08:22 BST

Ukraine pleads for Nato membership

Thursday, 15 May 2008 15:27
Viktor Yushchenko is visiting Britain today
Ukraine will only feel its sovereignty is secure when it has joined Nato, its president Viktor Yushchenko said today.

Speaking during his visit to Britain at Chatham House in London this lunchtime, Mr Yushchenko said he considered sovereignty and membership of Nato to be "closely tied up".

Ukraine was denied membership of the defence treaty organisation at a Nato meeting in Bucharest last month but received a promise that they would become members at a later date.

Today's visit by Mr Yushchenko is aimed at courting Britain's support in this and its efforts towards accession to the EU.

"The only condition which could prove the sovereignty… of the country would be Ukraine enjoying a system of collective security," he said.

"Our integration of Nato is not a policy against Russia. This is an approach for strengthening of national security and defence policy.

"Quite often we have to answer comments that Ukrainian-Russian relations are considered imperfect, and that Ukraine joining Nato would perhaps give the chance to create a [military] base of Nato in Crimea.

"But we would like to confirm that the Ukrainian constitution does not allow the placement of bases on the territory of Ukraine."

A Russian fleet is currently based in Crimea but this is timetabled to be shut down by 2017. Mr Yushchenko said the bilateral negotiations over its eventual withdrawal reflected "goodwill" between the countries.

"We feel there is no threat," he added.

The Russian government has repeatedly expressed its concerns about Nato's eastward expansion and one of the reasons France and Germany blocked the move in Bucharest was because of opposition to Ukraine's joining.

Mr Yushchenko insisted he was determined to go ahead with the move, however, saying: "It is our national right to create the foundation of our national defence and security policy."

The British government backs Ukraine's wish to join Nato. A joint statement issued today between the two governments announced Ukraine's inclusion in a France/UK-led initiative supporting helicopter upgrades and pilot training for operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"We believe that Ukraine should now begin a period of intensive engagement with Nato as well as pursuing internal reforms to address the outstanding questions pertaining to its membership action plan," the communiqué said.

"Our discussions today have highlighted our common priorities, which we intend to pursue together."End of story


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