Yanukovich in USA: Taking issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership into practical dimensionIt will be a problem

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Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich  announced necessity of a pragmatic approach to cooperation with NATO. “Ukraine will be a trustworthy and predictable partner of the North-Atlantic Alliance,” he is quoted as saying by a REGNUM correspondent (with reference to the governmental press office) during his speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on December 4. At the same time he noted that today the discussion concerning the Euro-Atlantic integration, to be more precise, taking the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership to the practical dimension poses a substantial problem.

“The situation is not odd because of the cold war enduring stereotypes, and substantial number of Ukrainian citizens are still worried that Ukraine’s joining NATO will hurt its friendly relations with Russia. As a consequence, only each fifth Ukrainian is ready today to back introducing an application for NATO membership. One cannot ignore such realities,” Viktor Yanukovich said. The head of the Ukrainian government finds it very important to continue Ukraine’s intensive dialog with NATO and its active participation in peacekeeping operations. At the same time, Yanukovich notes that they in Ukraine appreciate the constructive and well-considered attitude if NATO leadership towards prospects of future cooperation.

According to the Ukrainian prime minister, at the session of the Ukraine-NATO commission that took place in Brussels in September, he proposed a pragmatic approach towards cooperation with NATO, and Yanukovich insists upon it today as well. In particular, the Ukrainian prime minister pointed out importance of continuing and extending the cooperation with NATO, de-politicization of the subject of Ukraine-NATO relations, conducting a general information campaign, which will allow society “comprehend it and make a responsible decision” in a peaceful atmosphere.