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KIEV, Ukraine-President Bush is putting his full weight behind the desire by Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO even though Russia is opposed and the alliance is split. Bush on Tuesday pledged complete support for the bids despite vehement Russian opposition and French and German objections to allowing the former Soviet states to begin the NATO admission process.His strong stance sets up a showdown in the trans-Atlantic military alliance, whose leaders will decide this week whether to give Ukraine and Georgia "membership action plans."It may further complicate U.S.-Russia ties already strained by Moscow's resistance to Washington's plans to set up missile defenses in Europe.Bush said Russia would not have a veto on what other countries do. He rejected any trade-off between missile defense and NATO membership and pledged to work "as hard as I can" to open NATO's doors to Ukraine and Georgia. Both countries are ready and worthy to be welcomed, the president said."Your nation has made a bold decision and the United States strongly supports your request," Bush told Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko two days before the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania."My stop here should be a clear signal to everybody that I mean what I say: It's in our interest for Ukraine to join," Bush added.Bush wants Ukraine and Georgia to win approval for an action plan, which outlines what a country needs to do to win an invitation for full NATO membership. Russia opposes even starting the process, fearing a further loss of influence in two more of its Soviet-era Warsaw Pact neighbors.Nine former Soviet bloc countries are NATO members. A senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday that Ukraine's accession to NATO would cause a "deep crisis" in Moscow's relations with Ukraine.France and Germany say Ukraine and Georgia are not ready to begin the process.They fear upsetting Russia, which is a major supplier of energy to Europe.French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said his country would not support starting the membership process because it would upset the balance of power between Europe and Russia."France will not give its green light to the entry of Ukraine and Georgia," he told France-Inter radio. "We are opposed to Georgia and Ukraine's entry because we think that it is not the correct response to the balance of power in Europe, and between Europe and Russia."
NATO operates by consensus, meaning all decisions must be unanimous among its 26 members. Fillon's comments appeared to quash Ukrainian and Georgian hopes.But Bush said he had been assured by all his NATO counterparts that "Russia will not have a veto over what happens in Bucharest.I take their word for it."He did not address objections from France and Germany."I wouldn't prejudge the outcome just yet. The vote will be taken in Bucharest," the president said.He praised Ukraine's democratic and military reforms and noted that Ukraine "is the only non-NATO nation supporting every NATO mission." Ukraine has sent troops to Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq.The pro-Western Yushchenko said he was optimistic his country would get the nod from NATO. He discounted opposition from some in Ukraine to moving to join the alliance.
"I am sure that we will receive a positive signal in Bucharest and that's the spirit that we are going there with," he said, sitting beside Bush at a news conference in a narrow room with a high ceiling decorated with ornate molding.As Bush and Yushchenko met inside the presidential administration building, several dozen protesters staged a noisy rally waving Communist flags, singing Soviet songs and chanting "Yankee Go Home!"Ukraine has showcased its best side for Bush's visit. A welcoming ceremony for Bush featured the playing of national anthems and a parade of high-stepping military men in long, belted dress coats with fur collars.Ukraine long had flirted with joining the alliance. The country started taking real steps toward meeting the alliance's military and political standards only after Yushchenko became president in the wake of 2004 street protests, called the Orange Revolution.Since then, Ukraine has gained a vibrant opposition, a robust media and has held a series of clean elections. It has also set out to modernize its Soviet-style military so that it meets NATO standards.Remaining problems, however, range from rampant corruption to constant political turmoil.After their talks, Bush and Yushchenko and their wives went to a memorial honoring millions of famine victims from 1932-1933 under Joseph Stalin's rule. The leaders and their wives each left a small pot of flowers. They also toured St. Sofia Cathedral, a Kiev landmark, where they gazed up at the high ceilings and listened to 15-minute choir performance.Bush, who will meet Sunday with outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, told reporters it was a "misperception" that the United States might soften its push to get Ukraine and Georgia into NATO if Russia backs off opposition to the a missile defense shield in Europe."There's no trade-offs. Period," Bush said.Bush repeated his stance that the missile defense plan is meant to counter a threat from a rogue Middle East nation and poses no threat to Russia. Yet for months, Putin has demanded that the U.S. abandon the plan to base missiles in Poland and a radar tracking station in the Czech Republic.Putin complains it would upset the balance of power and was aimed at weakening Russia; the U.S. denies it.Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in Denmark ahead of the NATO summit, said Russian leaders have been receptive to U.S. efforts to address their concerns."The Russians are probably never going to like missile defense," he said. "But I think the assurances that we have provided and the mechanisms that we have proposed give them assurance that it is not aimed at them."
On the Net:
NATO summit site: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_re_eu/storytext/bush/26928623/SIG=10r34nu66/*http://tinyurl.com/3yuwr2
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/nato/
As in the days of Noah...
