European Parliament member from Estonia, Tunne Kelam (EPP-ED), on April 1 criticized the parliamentary security and defence subcommittee chairman's cautious position on the enlargement of NATO.
German MEP Karl von Wogau (EPP-ED) suggested at the committee meeting taking a reserved stance on NATO enlargement for the time being. He said it is necessary to first secure public support for enlargement in EU member countries and also pointed to the possibility of reaching a comprehensive agreement with Russia on this issue.
Kelam expressed his strong opposition to such reservations.
"Our primary duty is to observe our principles and values," he said. "New aspirants for membership in NATO such as Georgia and Ukraine have aimed at joining the same values. We have not the slightest reason to send them negative signals."
The lawmaker pointed out that it is not yet a question of accession to the alliance but of giving a Membership Action Plan (MAP) on the basis of which the accession process can begin.
In his words, it is particularly important in Georgia's case because a large majority of its citizens already have approved an application to join NATO.
"Let's face the facts," Kelam said. "Reasons like weak public support for enlargement in some European NATO country or hope for achieving a package solution with Russia's president-elect are pretexts that harm first and foremost NATO's own self-confidence and reliability."
He asked how countries that have embarked on building democracy and security can be expected to trust in NATO's ability to ensure security and rule of law if the alliance itself, due to domestic policy considerations of one or another member state, is ready to leave its potential allies and friends in the sphere of influence of a neo-imperialist and authoritarian neighbour.
As Kelam sees it, in the long run NATO would have more to lose than the new aspirants for membership through its hesitation and postponement of decisions on further enlargement.
"If the Bucharest summit fails to agree on sending candidate countries a positive signal, such indecision will directly encourage Moscow's aspirations to restore its influence over former Soviet territories," Kelam said.
Kelam speaks up for NATO enlargement (25)
Archived Articles | 02 Apr 2008 | EWR
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
Why can't you spell out the reasons as to why these countries could not be given admission to NATO at this important historical juncture?
When Päts compromised Estonian interests at the end of the 1930's, it was based on opinion of what he thought of Russia, not on fact of what Russia had done. Till then Päts had good relations with Russia. But Russia's cunning and ability to outwit Päts was not a fact Russia was prepared to give away that easily. The fact was proven later. The only saving grace for Päts was that there wasn't a lot of bloodshed. Still, there is a lesson to be had from that period on history-trusting Russia is a dangerous business, and there is every indication that Russia is even more trusted today than she was in the days and to the degree when Päts sought comfort from his Eastern neighbours. If there is too much absolute faith in NATO, and it will eventually lead to disillusionment when NATO proves unable to deliver the goods when push comes to shove. There is absolutely no guarantee that NATO is militarily superior to Russia, especially since Russia's newfound wealth in petroleum has upped Russia's stakes in terms of her readiness to enter war.
Also provides opinions, not facts. A blogger, perhaps familiar to Mr Maximus (?), recently wrote...
A lot of [this] research has been later used as the base for modern interrogation (torture?) employed by around the world. Klein also argues that basic principals of this research has been used on a much larger scale to inflict mass therapy on entire nations, braking them down to their basic level and wipe out any resistance in order to implement radical reforms that would otherwise be opposed by the majority of the population.
(and for what it is worth Bigfoot is in cahoots with Sasquatch and Yeti, working to a) discover their metrosexuality and then see if Ontario will include such work in the forcefeeding, also known as curriculum from pricipled above, and b) undermine the Beijing Games. Neither endeavour will amount to a fart in the path of the hurricane, or will it?)
A lot of [this] research has been later used as the base for modern interrogation (torture?) employed by around the world. Klein also argues that basic principals of this research has been used on a much larger scale to inflict mass therapy on entire nations, braking them down to their basic level and wipe out any resistance in order to implement radical reforms that would otherwise be opposed by the majority of the population.
(and for what it is worth Bigfoot is in cahoots with Sasquatch and Yeti, working to a) discover their metrosexuality and then see if Ontario will include such work in the forcefeeding, also known as curriculum from pricipled above, and b) undermine the Beijing Games. Neither endeavour will amount to a fart in the path of the hurricane, or will it?)
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