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http://www.russiajournal.com/news/index.shtml?nd=14089#n14089 Russia Journal July 9, 2002 NATO in Ukraine for talks on partnership -"We will not be able to join NATO, regardless of closer NATO-Russian relations, if we aren't willing to implement market reforms." KIEV, Ukraine (Associated Press) - NATO's governing political body, the North Atlantic Council, is coming to Ukraine for talks on deepening the former Soviet republic's partnership with the alliance ahead of the NATO-Ukraine Summit in November. After arriving late Monday, NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson and the permanent representatives of the alliance's 19 member nations are to meet with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko and leaders of parliament Tuesday for talks aimed at deepening the former Soviet republic's five-year relationship with the alliance. Ukrainian officials plan to discuss their country's bid to enter NATO ahead of the NATO-Ukraine summit in Prague in November. No new agreements are planned to be signed, Ukraine's representative to NATO, Volodymyr Khandohiy, said Monday. After waffling for years between allegiance to Russia and the West, Ukraine in May declared its intention to seek membership in the alliance that once targeted it. Ukraine accelerated its pursuit of NATO after neighbor and key trade partner Russia - which had long protested NATO expansion - signed an agreement in May bringing it closer to the alliance. Boosting Euro-Atlantic integration has become Ukraine's top foreign policy priority and the government sees NATO membership as a crucial step. However, NATO experts have so far reacted coolly to Kiev's aspirations for full membership. Western and Ukrainian experts have said the country must press ahead with stalled economic reforms, shore up domestic support, bolster civilian control of the armed forces and trim the army's ranks before all 19 NATO members will accept Ukraine. "We will not be able to join NATO, regardless of closer NATO-Russian relations, if we aren't willing to implement market reforms," Khandohiy said. Robertson is scheduled to travel to the eastern Donetsk region on Wednesday to observe the destruction of some 400,000 land mines before leaving the country. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org 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 ==^================================================================
