euro|topics - NATO's expansion

08/01/2009

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Tema destacado del Viernes, 4. Abril 2008

NATO's expansion

Heads of government and state at the NATO summit in Bucharest have agreed to allow Croatia and Albania to join the military alliance. Macedonia's hopes of becoming the third Balkan state to join were dashed as a result of Greece's opposition. For Ukraine and Georgia, membership in the alliance has receded into the distant future.

Der Standard - Austria

Markus Bernath praises Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy for managing to get the accession of Ukraine and Georgia postponed indefinitely - against the will of the US. "The emergence of a Franco-German alliance within NATO was the main event in Bucharest. Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have put an end to the Bush era and the most recent episode of American unilateralism, even before the Republican president leaves the White House. Europeans are not taking over command of the Alliance, which will comprise 28 members once Croatia and Albania join. But the balance of power seems more even than it was just a couple of months ago, because Angela Merkel can now count on allies within NATO who have the same interests. In view of the direction America's foreign policies have taken, Members like Italy, Spain and Portugal have become increasingly estranged from Washington over the past seven years." (04/04/2008)

Postimees - Estonia

The Estonian newspaper expresses disappointment that Ukraine and Georgia have not been asked to join NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP). Estonia had done its utmost to secure membership for the two countries. "This is also a setback for Estonia's foreign policy, which had pushed for these two countries to be given the prospect of membership as soon as possible. And it raises a series of awkward questions for Estonia's foreign policy. Was it right to pin all hopes on the US, and how to respond to the resistance of Germany and France? Or would it be better to just wait until the Alliance decides to give Georgia and Ukraine their chance?" (04/04/2008)

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Suiza

"Isn't it time Athens took a step towards its little neighbour to the north ?" Cyrill Stieger asks with reference to Greece's veto against Macedonia's membership because of the name dispute. "Greece is a stable state which has long been a member of the EU and NATO - unlike the young Republic of Macedonia, with its large Albanian minority, and its new neighbouring state Kosovo, whose future is still uncertain. Macedonia was on the verge of civil war in 2001. With its veto Greece has not only harmed Macedonia, for whom an invitation to join NATO would be tantamount to a guarantee for the continued existence of a state which is still under threat. Athens' stubborn stance is harming its own interests. Macedonia's accession would be an important step towards stabilisation in the Balkans, something from which Greece would also profit." (04/04/2008)

The Daily Telegraph - Gran Bretaña

"The Taliban must be rubbing their hands with glee. With the new fighting season about to begin in earnest in Afghanistan, the West shows no sign of resolving the deep divisions that have severely hampered its attempts to rebuild the country," writes Con Coughlin. "Hardly had George W. Bush set out his compelling arguments in favour of extending the organisation's reach into southern and eastern Europe than other member states were ganging up to frustrate his ambitions. The American position is simplicity itself. NATO won the Cold War and therefore NATO should enjoy the spoils of victory. ... The concerns of the Germans, French and Greeks about Nato expansion might carry more force if they were pulling their weight where it really counts - trying to defeat the Taliban... . NATO may have won the Cold War but, at this rate, it will be a long time before it proclaims victory in Afghanistan." (04/04/2008)

Hospodářské noviny - La República Checa

Martin Ehl is delighted that NATO has decided to back the construction of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic and urged Russia to give up its resistance to the project. "Western Europe has a great desire to distance itself from the United States. The east of the old Continent, on the other hand, sees an alliance with Washington as a guarantee against Russia's expansionist efforts, whether they take the form of soldiers in tanks or Gazprom's foreign dealings. It's a miracle that the US has been able to gain the support of the Alliance for its missile defence shield - which should also be a source of satisfaction for Czech Greens and Social Democrats - in these circumstances." (04/04/2008)

» de toda la revista de prensa del Viernes, 4. Abril 2008

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