The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, A. Yatseniuk, called for upholding the Draft Resolution introduced by him, on several aspects of decision taking on The Accession of Ukraine to NATO.
At a Press Conference on Friday 25 January, The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reported that he had introduced on the floor a Draft Resolution of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on several aspects of decision taking on the accession of Ukraine to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
He said that the Document suggests that the decision on the accession of Ukraine to NATO can only be taken following the Ukrainian Referendum, which may take place after Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures, as required for such accession, in her relations with the Alliance. According to Yatseniuk, two more alternative Drafts have been introduced in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine - one from the Majority, and one from the Opposition.
A. Yatseniuk called for Members of the Democratic Coalition to uphold this Document as a compromise 'actually reflecting the will of all political parties, apart from the Communist Party of Ukraine, and in this wording included earlier in the National Unity Universal'. 'I call for all political partners to vote for my Draft Resolution', he said.
Replying to journalists´ questions concerning a Referendum on Ukraine´s accession to NATO, A. Yatseniuk said that the Draft Resolution, submitted by him, was intended to reassure society. At the same time, there are no grounds for a Referendum at the present time. ‘I tell you that I am not going to disclose a secret, but what I will tell you is that no-one expects to see Ukraine in NATO in the near future, not today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. This will be a long-term project for the Ukrainian State, maybe taking five years, or even as long as ten years´.