by Marcus Papadopoulos
THE aspirations of two former Soviet republics to enter Nato were dashed this week when members of the Western military alliance meeting in Brussels declined to offer them the formal roadmap required for joining.
Nato foreign ministers were unable to reach a consensus on whether to offer Ukraine and Georgia a membership action plan – a programme of advice designed to assist countries aspiring to join Nato.
Despite previous intense pressure from the United States government, key Nato members such as Germany and France maintained the argument that granting Kiev and Tbilisi membership of the alliance would aggravate Russia and create instability in both countries.
However, the Secretary General of the alliance, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, reiterated the pledge made by Nato at a summit in Bucharest this April that both countries, if they are willing, “will one day be members”.
Nato’s decision came as no surprise following last week’s statement by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the American government would refrain from pushing for membership for the two former Soviet countries at this week’s meeting. She said: “Georgia and Ukraine are not ready for membership. That is very clear.”
But Nato has not dispensed with the idea of Ukraine and Georgia becoming members. Already being explored is a British proposal to prepare Kiev and Tbilisi for entry into the alliance by an alternative means as opposed to the formal procedure of offering a membership action plan.
