STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Get a low APR NextCard Visa in 30 seconds! 1. Fill in the brief application 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds 3. Get rates as low as 2.99% Intro or 9.99% Ongoing APR and no annual fee! Apply NOW! http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/NextCard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lithuania's inclusion as an equal member into NATO's defence structures is one of the most important aims of all political parties in Lithuania. Most politicians even suppose that it is more important than European Union membership. June, 01 2001 Pravda.ru LITHUANIA: TO BE OR NOT TO BE IN NATO Yesterday, the sitting of the NATO Parliament Assembly occurred, which considered the question about alliance expansion, finished its work in the city of Vilnus. The Lithuanian delegation's members introduced an interesting proposition: to add the declaration about all democratic European states, invited in join NATO till year 2002, with the position, that "any third country must not have the right of veto on another's country aspiration to enter North Atlantic Treaty Organisation". "Third country", obviously, means Russia, whose influence is so frightful for Lithuania. The situation seems to be dual: on one hand, former allies of the Soviet Union try to show their independence from the CIS; on the other hand, they are still afraid of possible Russian influence. It is clear, why this NATO expansion frightens Russia (the Alliance comes close to Russian boarders), though why is Lithuania so frightened, what influence of Russia is it expecting? Therefore, Russia is still regarded as a menace, but now as political menace. And a fight against Russia must be political. For example, Assembly President Rafael Estrella is perplexed about the Russian Parliament's decision not to take part in the Assembly sitting. It must be remembered, that it was the Russian official position. "Taking part in the Parliament Assembly, which goes occurs in Vilnus, would be regarded as indirect agreement of Russia to Lithuania's entrance into NATO". Western politicians pretend that they cannot understand the kernel of the problem. But let us see how the situation will evolve. Already next year, the Alliance Council could make a decision about Lithuania's entrance into NATO. The application for entrance was handed in 1994. Lithuania's inclusion as an equal member into NATO's defence structures is one of the most important aims of all political parties in Lithuania. Most politicians even suppose that it is more important than European Union membership. Irina Kostryukova PRAVDA.Ru __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
