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Russians Threatened by Ukraine, Georgia in NATO
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Russia regard the potential entry of Ukraine and Georgia into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as dangerous to their country, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. At least 60 per cent of respondents think Russia would be threatened seriously or certainly if the two former Soviet republics joined NATO.
NATO was originally formed in 1949 as an agreement of collaboration designed to prevent a possible attack from the Soviet Union on North America or Western Europe during the Cold War. In March 2004, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia officially joined NATO.
On Apr. 2, United States president George W. Bush pleaded in favour of accepting several new countries into NATO. Croatia and Albania have already been invited into the alliance, but Macedonia’s bid was blocked by Greece due to a dispute over the country’s name.
German chancellor Angela Merkel rejected Ukraine and Georgia’s accession into NATO, saying, "We are convinced that it is too early to grant both states the [pre-membership] status." France also said it would not support inviting the two former Soviet republics because it would not be fair to Russia. One NATO member is enough to block a bid, because policy-making in the alliance is reached by consensus.
Russia has adamantly opposed NATO’s attempts to expand in Eastern Europe, saying this corners the country and forces it to play a defensive role in the region. Bush said Russia should not fear NATO, because it "is a group of nations dedicated to peace."
Polling Data
Would Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) represent a threat to Russia?
|
A serious threat |
30% |
|
A certain threat |
30% |
|
A small threat |
14% |
|
No threat |
12% |
|
Hard to answer |
13% |
Would Georgia’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) represent a threat to Russia?
|
A serious threat |
36% |
|
A certain threat |
28% |
|
A small threat |
13% |
|
No threat |
11% |
|
Hard to answer |
13% |
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Mar. 14 to Mar. 17, 2008. No margin of error was provided.