Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Ukraine Renounces Non-Aligned Status in Move Towards Joining NATO

12/23/2014




KIEV – Ukrainian lawmakers on Tuesday revoked their country’s non-aligned status by amending laws that were preventing the country from joining military blocs, and paving the way for its future membership in NATO, a step strongly opposed by Russia.

Amendments proposed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko were supported by 303 members of parliament, representing a constitutional majority.

The bill included an article that strengthens cooperation with NATO and stated that such cooperation “fulfils the standards and adheres to the necessary principles,” officials said.

The law on Fundamentals of National Security also included a new article stipulating that Ukraine’s integration in Europe’s political, economic and legislative space is a national priority interest.

The bill also notes that Russian aggression against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of Crimea and the neighboring country’s military intervention in its eastern regions justify the need to find more effective guarantees of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

Poroshenko described as a “big mistake” the decision of ousted former president Viktor Yanukovych in 2010 to include nonalignment in military blocs, whether Western or Eastern, in the country’s constitution.

Since his victory in last May’s presidential elections the Ukrainian president has reiterated that entry into NATO will be decided by referendum.

On Tuesday morning, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Facebook that by asking parliament to vote to cancel Ukraine’s non-aligned status, Poroshenko is making a bid to join NATO, which makes Ukraine Russia’s potential military adversary.


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