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Posted by siania on August 28, 2005 at 10:09:53:
In Reply to: Russia-Ukraine-Kazakhstan-Belarus posted by Mike Allen on August 28, 2005 at 05:48:36:
Ukraine will do what is in its best interests. It seems that Ukraine must be allied economically with some group or other until membership in the EU becomes a possibility - even if it takes 15 years.
The reports that have come out of the summit suggest that Ukraine is hedging on becoming absorbed into any alliance that resembles the former Soviet Union. Can the current administration choose which parts of the Common Economic Space it signs on to, making sure that whatever commitments it makes can be broken when the opportunity for joining the EU presents itself? Tough call. If Russia has anything to say about it, all agreements will be written in stone, and before we know it, Ukraine will once again be celebrating a "reunion" with matiushka Rossiya.
The Turkey question is another matter. Turkey believes itself to be European. Is it better to allow it to drift into stronger ties with the Middle East? Or is it better to place pressure on Turkey to bring it closer to the European values that it claims to uphold?
Unfortunately, many Europeans are becoming more and more xenophobic. They fear the Islamic elements that are already present in their midst, and would sooner purge that population than permit it to grow.
But that would just lead to even greater tensions in the world than we already see.
: I hear Ukraine has not signed up to the new Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus economic space but will do so gradually. The European Union may not offer Ukraine the possibility of membership for another 15-20 years. The Euro public is increasingly hostile to expansion. No one seems to know why Turkey is being talked of as a potential EU member when it still occupies northern Cyprus, blockades Armenia, uses torture in prisons and as the Pope says has never had a European identity.