Russian Envoy Warns NATO Over Ukraine Membership - BBC
Sunday November 30th, 2008 / 16h33
LONDON (AFP)--Many politicians from North Artlantic Treaty Organization countries look at the world "like dogs" and see the world only in black and white, Russia's ambassador to the military alliance told the BBC in comments released Sunday. Dmitry Rogozin also said there was a "real threat that the Ukrainian state will fall apart" if it joins NATO, ahead of a meeting of its foreign ministers in Brussels Tuesday, who will discuss the proposed candidacy of Ukraine and Georgia. "Unfortunately, many NATO politicians look at the world - I'm sorry - like dogs," he told BBC television, according to a transcript released by the broadcaster. "Dogs see the world not in colour but in black and white. For us, NATO is an alien political bloc because entry into NATO for us is closed off - they will never invite us in. "And when this alien political bloc is getting closer to our borders, it's hugely alarming." He added that if Ukraine were to "force the pace" of entry to NATO, it would provoke "a total political crisis in the country. "By comparison, the current instability will look like a soap opera," he said. "Broadly speaking, there is a real threat that the Ukrainian state will fall apart." Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet states which are neighbors of Russia, had hoped to secure a Membership Action Plan, which helps countries wanting to be NATO members prepare, at the two-day Brussels meeting. But U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned that they are "not ready for membership." Analysts say concerns about Georgia's suitability were raised by the war in August which saw Russian troops pour into the country, while worries about Ukraine are linked to political turmoil and rows between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/al?rnd=fFWui2UANxLvafhqnQjU%2Bg%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
Les Bourses européennes ont clôturé en ordre dispersé vendredi mais sur une note globalement négative pour la troisième séance d'affilée, dans des échanges peu animés en l'absence...
Wall Street a clôturé en forte baisse jeudi, après la publication de chiffres de l'emploi pires que prévu et qui font douter du scénario d'une reprise rapide. La clôture a été...
La Bourse de Tokyo a fini en baisse de 0,61% vendredi, au lendemain de chiffres de l'emploi américain venus raviver les inquiétudes des investisseurs quant à l'état de l'économie...
Un consortium emmené par le britannique BP et comprenant le chinois CNPC a remporté le contrat d'exploitation du plus important champ pétrolifère d'Irak, a annoncé le ministre...
