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| US cools on NATO path for Georgia, Ukraine | ||
| 2008-11-26 | ||
| WASHINGTON - The United States on Tuesday cooled its support for a formal path to help Georgia and Ukraine join NATO, amid opposition not just from Russia but also from Germany and France. Speaking to reporters ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting next week in Brussels, senior US diplomat Daniel Fried sounded conciliatory notes about how the two former Soviet republics should join the transatlantic alliance. The issue of an alliance membership action plan (MAP) for Georgia and Ukraine had taken "on a life of its own" since a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Bucharest in April, he said.
Fried stressed that the controversy was over the MAP -- which is only a "way station" and "mechanism" to achieving full membership -- rather than over the long-term goal of having the two join. "MAP is not the only way to get there," he said. "I cannot tell you where foreign ministers will come out in this debate," said Fried, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs who will travel to Brussels with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "But we think, rather than have a huge debate on MAP, ... we ought to concentrate on the areas where the alliance is already agreed, which is that these countries will join NATO but they have a lot of work to do," he added. With nine former Soviet bloc countries already NATO members, Russia is fiercely opposed to more Soviet-era Warsaw Pact neighbors like Georgia and the Ukraine even starting the process of joining the western military alliance. NATO set up the MAP program in 1999 to support prospective members of the military alliance while they carry out the economic, legal, military and political reforms needed to join. "Let's not debate theology. Let's help Georgia build up much stronger institutions, consolidate its democracy....," he said. "I think it's fair to predict there would be no NATO membership offer for some years to come -- just taking a look at these countries (Georgia and Ukraine) realistically," Fried said. In October President George W. Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said that there was "no reason" why Georgia and Ukraine should not be given a MAP. Perino also said Washington had seen "growing support for Georgia and Ukraine given what happened this summer when Russia invaded Georgia," referring to the armed conflict between the neighbors over Georgia's breakaway regions. NATO members are divided, however, because they see that while membership could stabilize Georgia and Ukraine, it may also raise tensions with Moscow, which considers the move a threat to its own security.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 I'm sure Obama will more than approve the Georgians, Ukrainians and other FSU joining a group for protection. A Pact, if you will. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-11-26 20:25 |
| #6 The franks and krauts are worried that the conflict in Georgia shows that they could potentially have to actually fight the Russians With what? Actually the Russian Army could not even deal with either the German or French Army without resorting to nukes. Yes it has fallen this low. |
| Posted by: JFM 2008-11-26 11:52 |
| #5 Once again, we prepare to screw over potentially valuable friends. But all this talk of Franks and Krauts is making me hungry. Do you have any potato pancakes to go with that? It would be very nice. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-11-26 08:12 |
| #4 ....," he said. "I think it's fair to predict there would be no NATO membership offer for some years to come Yes indeed, four years to be very specific. Thank you, and you ma sit down now Mr. Fried. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-26 07:54 |
| #3 The franks and krauts are worried that the conflict in Georgia shows that they could potentially have to actually fight the Russians With what? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-11-26 05:35 |
| #2 Yes. The franks and krauts are worried that the conflict in Georgia shows that they could potentially have to actually fight the Russians. I can't say I don't see their concern, but I can say they're bullshitting me, you and themselves by trying to hide behind words like 'rising tensions'. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-11-26 01:33 |
| #1 Not the Ukraine, unless that sellout takes over. Ukraine is key. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-11-26 01:22 |