Ukraine President Makes NATO Bid

Desperately seeking security. *Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko marked the anniversary of Ukrainian independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union by calling for a steep increase in defence spending and a speedy entry into NATO. Yushchenko gave the speech in Kiev's Independece Square, the scene of the 2004 Orange revolution that swept the pro-Western president to power, followed by the first display in years of Ukraine's military hardware and declared that membership of NATO was vital to the security of his country. Distressed by Russia sending troops into Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Yushchenko stepped up his calls for swift NATO membership and warned Russia that Ukraine would not tolerate any attempt to divide it. "We must speed up our work to achieve membership of the European system of security and raise the defense capabilities of the country," Yushchenko said. "Only these steps will guarantee our security and the integrity of our borders." President Medvedev of Russia warned Yushchenko against spoiling relations, saying that the two countries were "linked by years of spiritual, cultural and historical ties". Russia fiercely opposes NATO membership for Ukraine and has threatened to target nuclear missiles at its neighbour if it joins the alliance. President Yushchenko said in an interview that NATO membership was the "only way for our country to protect our national security and sovereignty. The peace and security of Europe are under threat, thus a united Europe should give a robust and appropriate response." ニュースアニメ「ウクライナ大統領、ＮＡＴＯ加盟方針鮮明に ロシアへ警戒感」 ウクライナのユーシェンコ大統領は２４日の独立記念日の演説で「欧州の安全保障の枠組みに加盟し、国防力を高めることが領土を保全する唯一の道だ」と述べ、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）加盟方針を鮮明にした。旧ソ連圏で同じく親欧米のグルジアに対するロシアの侵略を非難したうえで「脅威が迫っている」と強調し、ロシアへの警戒感をあらわにした。ユーシェンコ大統領は親欧米政権を樹立した２００４年の民主化運動「オレンジ革命」の舞台となった独立広場で演説した。戦車や戦闘機を投入したこれまでにない大規模な軍事パレードも実施。「誰も我々の将来や公用語などを指図することはできない」と述べ、ロシアの介入に対抗するため政治勢力の結集を訴えた。

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YouTube | September 2, 2008