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Ukraine reiterates bid to join NATO Copyright 2002 by United Press International. July 09, 2002 KIEV, Ukraine, Jul 09, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Ukraine reiterated its bid to join NATO as President Leonid Kuchma Tuesday declared the ex-Soviet nation's readiness to become part of the powerful military alliance. "Ukraine's total integration into NATO is dictated by the reality of European and world politics, particularly after the tragic events of Sept. 11 in the United States," Kuchma said in a statement. "We are aware that joining NATO will be a long process and we will do everything possible," he added. NATO Secretary General George Robertson welcomed the bid, but warned that Ukraine's subsequent induction into the alliance would be a long-term process. Robertson arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for a three-day visit. On Tuesday he chaired a session of the NATO-Ukraine commission working to assess the prospects for further development of ties between the military bloc and Kiev. Robertson also said that Ukraine was not bidding for full membership yet and hadn't even filed an application for the Membership Action Plan -- the first step for each new aspiring member. However, the NATO chief encouraged Kiev to pursue closer ties with the alliance that he said was "ready to go as far as Ukraine is willing and able to go." "I am convinced it will be a road with a successful destination," Robertson said. He also stressed that Ukraine had to implement more effectively economic and social reforms, rebuild its aging military infrastructure, improve its human rights record and display strong commitment to building democracy before NATO could seriously consider its potential membership application. So far, Ukraine has actively participated in military exercises under NATO's Partnership for Peace program and was a valuable contributor to the U.S.-led anti-terrorist campaign in Afghanistan. On Tuesday, Robertson said that the two sides would soon start negotiations to sign an agreement on "strategic air deliveries" involving the Ukrainian-made Antonov cargo planes that carried troops and military equipment during the Afghan crisis. Speaking of Ukraine's post-Soviet achievements, Robertson praised Kiev's handling of the Black Sea Fleet's division with Russia, which he said was a move whose magnitude stood next to Ukraine's independence bid. At the same time, the NATO chief warned that Kiev needed to remove all legal obstacles before qualifying for membership, such as a border dispute with a likely new NATO member, Romania. Both countries claim the Zmeiny Island, situated at the mouth of the River Danube and currently belonging to Ukraine. The 1947 Paris Treaty handed the island to the Soviet Union after Bucharest ceded Bessarabia to Moscow in 1940. �Washington Evening Journal 2002 http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4689980&BRD=1142&PAG=740&dept_id=22 6968&rfi=6 --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
