Ukrainian Govt. pulls $3 million for campaigning for NATO

[Afro-European]

Ukraine has begun an informational campaign to popularize the idea of NATO membership. There is $3 million budgeted for the campaign. The government hopes to reduce the number of its citizens opposed to the idea significantly by December, when Ukraine hope to receive a NATO Membership Action Plan.
The idea for the campaign arise at the beginning of the year, at the same time as Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko stated that a referendum was necessary on Ukraine's NATO membership. The campaign itself began only in the last few days. Well-known politicians, such as Boris Tarasyuk, chairman of the Supreme Rada Committee on European Integration, have taken to the road to explain the idea to the people. Ukrainian state television will soon begin showing “positive programming” devoted to NATO.

“NATO's refusal to give Ukraine a Membership Action Plan at the Bucharest summit was a hard blow to Yushchenko's image,” commented Dmitro Ponomarchuk, president of the Free Journalists Foundation. “Now it is a matter of honor for the president.” According to the International Institute of Sociology in Kiev, only 18 percent of Ukrainians support the idea of the country's membership in NATO, while 62 percent oppose it. NATO has 39-percent support in Western Ukraine, and 6-percent support in Eastern Ukraine.

“Everything depends on how delicately Russia will behave toward Ukraine,” International Institute of Sociology president Valery Khmelko said. “It is clear from our statistics how painfully people react when they do not want to consider them citizens of a sovereign state and threaten them with missiles. So the Russian politicians themselves are working toward the likelihood that Ukrainians will vote for NATO.”

http://www.kommersant.com/p888083/NATO_Ukraine_/

[biar_ecare]

I thought Yushchenko was all cool until I realize he's just a pro-western c***

[Afro-European]

I thought Yushchenko was all cool until I realize he's just a pro-western c***

He has always been and will remain a pro-western leader.Though his pro-western stance that got him elected will cost him the next year election.
According to the latest polls,Yulia Timoshenko is credited with 41% and him with a mere... 18%.

[delio]

I doubt his pro-western stance is at fault there, particularly since The Hot Babe herself is very pro-Western too. If those poll number are close to reflecting reality, I'd think is has more to do with domestic politics, and The Hot Babe being such a damn good populist politician.

[Igor01]

Gotta love governments and their pet projects, they have no problem spending millions of taxpayers' dollars on something the overwhelming majority of taxpayers resent.

[Afro-European]

[quote][quote]I doubt his pro-western stance is at fault there,

I completely agree with you.His incomptence and inability to deliver what he promised will cost him tje next year election.

particularly since The Hot Babe herself is very pro-Western too
I wouldn't label Yulia Timoshenko as "pro-western".3 weeks ago,i posted an interview she gave in Brussels where she stated that Ukraine will join Nato only after a referendum,knowing well that 3/4 of the population oppose that membership.She has furhter been making some conciliatory moves towards Russia,which moves Yushchenko opposes.To sum it up,she'll go where her interests lie.

[Afro-European]

Gotta love governments and their pet projects, they have no problem spending millions of taxpayers' dollars on something the overwhelming majority of taxpayers resent.

I don't think it's Ukrainian money,it's rather Nato money,as Nato members want Ukraine to join at any cost.

[Igor01]

I don't think it's Ukrainian money,it's rather Nato money,as Nato members want Ukraine to join at any cost.

Hmm, Poland and the ever vocal Baltics perhaps, but not the big boys. I doubt that NATO would actually allocate funds from their own budget to promote the Ukraine membership idea. The money most certainly will come from the Ukraine's budget.

Much like the funding for the anti- Russian language propaganda campaign that Yuschenko ordered in the Crimea and at the East of the country last week. They are using Russian-speaking taxpayers' money to tell them how great it is that they cannot get education, interact with government officials or watch movies in their native language.

[delio]

[quote=delio;3216376][quote]



I wouldn't label Yulia Timoshenko as "pro-western".3 weeks ago,i posted an interview she gave in Brussels where she stated that Ukraine will join Nato only after a referendum,knowing well that 3/4 of the population oppose that membership.She has furhter been making some conciliatory moves towards Russia,which moves Yushchenko opposes.To sum it up,she'll go where her interests lie.She's personally in favor of NATO membership for her country, that alone unequivocally put her in the 'pro-West' camp.

edited to add: here's part of a response I posted on that thread, (That last line alone put her in the pro-West camp), ...




To say she said Ukraine won't join Nato is to mis characterize her position, which seem to be that she is personally in favor of NATO membership, but won't try to force it on the majority of her country. (I personally think thats great.) That position there alone show she's unequivocally looking more towards the West than towards Russia. Want more prove she's pro-West? She's gunning for full membership in the EU.

Now about being anti-Russia; I don't think she is. Then I again one can say Norway isn't anti-Russia too, so that may not mean as much as some would think. It really doesn't tell much except that she's no Saakashvili, which is a great thing too.

..But she ain't pro-Russian, or even neutral.

(As an aside: Yuchenkos personal strong animosity towards Russia is politically stupid, but largely justified. Russia made what in hindsight was a strategic miscalculation during the time of the Orange revolution. I remember during the Orange Revolution, as he and Tymoshenko were busy with the masses on the street, Vladimir Putin seem to come just about every other day with a new statement praising and recognizing his rival at the next leader of Ukraine)

Any way, Tymoshenko may not be anti-Russia but she certainly isn't pro-Russia or even neutral , just read some of her major articles - like this one:




Quote:
Containing Russia (http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070501faessay86307/yuliya-tymoshenko/containing-russia.html)

by Yuliya Tymoshenko (http://www.foreignaffairs.org/author/yuliya-tymoshenko/index.html)

FA, May/June 2007

Summary: Russia's imperial ambitions did not end with the fall of the Soviet Union. The Kremlin has returned to expansionism, trying to recapture great-power status at the expense of its neighbors, warns one of Ukraine's most prominent politicians. The United States and Europe must counter with a strong response -- one that keeps Russia in check without sparking a new Cold War.

In the aftermath of communism's collapse, it was assumed that Russia's imperial ambitions had vanished -- and that foreign policy toward Russia could be conducted as if former diplomatic considerations did not apply. Yet they must apply, for Russia straddles the world's geopolitical heartland and is heir to a remorseless imperial tradition. Encouraging economic and political reform -- the West's preferred means of engaging Russia since communism's end -- is of course an important foreign policy tool. But it cannot substitute for a serious effort to counter Russia's long-standing expansionism and its present desire to recapture its great-power status at the expense of its neighbors.

.. for every step forward that Russia has taken over the course of Putin's second term, it has taken a step backward.

... we [in Ukraine] see our future in the European Union

[Afro-European]

Hmm, Poland and the ever vocal Baltics perhaps, but not the big boys. I doubt that NATO would actually allocate funds from their own budget to promote the Ukraine membership idea. The money most certainly will come from the Ukraine's budget.

Much like the funding for the anti- Russian language propaganda campaign that Yuschenko ordered in the Crimea and at the East of the country last week. They are using Russian-speaking taxpayers' money to tell them how great it is that they cannot get education, interact with government officials or watch movies in their native language.

Aren't Nato members able to spend a mere $3 millions to spread their "good" cause? Are you kidding? The US "human rights" budget allocated NGO's and civic society in Russia alone(FY2008) is 23 $ millions.

[Afro-European]

[quote=Afro-European;3216436][quote=delio;3216376]S[quote]
he's personally in favor of NATO membership for her country, that alone unequivocally put her in the 'pro-West' camp.


But she isn't overtly pro-west and anti-russia as Yushchenko is.

To say she said Ukraine won't join Nato is to mis characterize her position, which seem to be that she is personally in favor of NATO membership, but won't try to force it on the majority of her country
Knowing well that only 1/4 of the population agrees with that.

Now about being anti-Russia; I don't think she is.
She sure is not.She recently timed up with Putin to arrest a Yushenko's close collaborator who was accused of stealing oil money through some obscure companies.

..But she ain't pro-Russian, or even neutral.
She doesn't have to.But if she's smart,she can have good ties as well with the wesr as with Russia,playing the role of a buffer state.

[Igor01]

Aren't Nato members able to spend a mere $3 millions to spread their "good" cause? Are you kidding? The US "human rights" budget allocated NGO's and civic society in Russia alone(FY2008) is 23 $ millions.

I am sure NATO can afford it, but since the campaign is initiated by Yuschenko himself, it would be logical to assume his country's budget is paying for it. Besides, US does not equal NATO, Americans may love tear Ukraine from Russia for good, but Germans and French for example would be a lot less receptive to the idea and willing to throw money away.

[Switek]

3 millions bucks? It's very humble budget for few weeks low intensity multi media campaign... I really do not get what's the whole row about...

[delio]

But she isn't overtly pro-west and anti-russia as Yushchenko is.




She certainly is is overtly pro-west.

Its arguable weather she's anti-Russia or not - much as it is arguable weather Bush is anti-Russian or not - but she certainly does seem to view Russia as a foe or at least a (and perhaps the) major threat to her country's sovereignty. Just checkout her word choices, ..




In the aftermath of communism's collapse, it was assumed that Russia's imperial ambitions had vanished -- and that foreign policy toward Russia could be conducted as if former diplomatic considerations did not apply. Yet they must apply, for Russia straddles the world's geopolitical heartland and is heir to a remorseless imperial tradition. Encouraging economic and political reform -- the West's preferred means of engaging Russia since communism's end -- is of course an important foreign policy tool. But it cannot substitute for a serious effort to counter Russia's long-standing expansionism and its present desire to recapture its great-power status at the expense of its neighbors.

.. for every step forward that Russia has taken over the course of Putin's second term, it has taken a step backward.I doubt Bush would ever use such a combination of strongly antagonistic, undiplomatic language when talking about Russia. Its like she saying "Mr. Bush, I have been looking into Putin's eyes for a long time now. I myself see the son of the devil" lol.

In fact this whole pro-NATO campaign f may have, at least in part been, her idea. Her words as she was quoted in the article you posted in that other thread, ..


“It is only the activation of our cooperation. A real politician will never deal a blow to the people. Everything will be decided by referendum and the politicians will not go against the will of the people. Of course, first an education campaign is needed. Many of those in Ukraine who are against NATO do not even know what the abbreviation stands for.”

[Xaito]

that's democracy as we know and love it - if the people say no you use the media to manupulate their opinion.

[ronaldo413]

political spends money, mass people suffer what a great idea :roll:

[blackshadow69]

Our Youshchenko and Timo (Blednaia s kasoi) can join NATO and finaly leave us alone...They r the only one who need so much to kiss western as* and the road is open PLEASE U USHCHENKO AND U TIMO AND BROTHERS PLS GO!woot

[Flamming_Python]

She is a populist.

Nuff' said.

[Afro-European]

[quote]I am sure NATO can afford it, but since the campaign is initiated by Yuschenko himself
The campain is/was initiated by Yushchenko with a strong support of the West.

, it would be logical to assume his country's budget is paying for it.
They have better things to do than waste their dough on this.

Besides, US does not equal NATO
US is Nato and Nato is US.What the US decides for that organization goes.(see Nato command structure since its creation)

Americans may love tear Ukraine from Russia for good, but Germans and French for example would be a lot less receptive to the idea and willing to throw money away
I agree with you on this.But the talks on Ukraine and Georgia joining Nato will resume in december.Let'swait and see if Germany and France will still oppose that move.

[Afro-European]

She is a populist.

Nuff' said.
Her "populist" agenda will get her elected.p-)p-)p-)

[Igor01]

All I can add is that the NATO issue and forced "ukrainization" of the East and South Ukraine can tear that country apart in a very short order. Ukraine is almost guaranteed to loose Crimea and possibly the Eastern regions on the Russian border. Forcing the issue is a recipe for disaster but than who said that politicians need to apply common sense or represent their electorate collective will?

[randomguy]

Yushenko should stop trying to convince his people to change theyr minds by using theyr own money to try and convince them to be pro NATO. Maybe hel be more popular.

[Mamont]

The whole ruling party must commit public seppuku on the Maidan to at least to some degree to clear it's image. That would be appropriate after all they've been done.