UKRAINE RENOUNCING NONALIGNMENT ON THE ROAD TO NATO.

Writingin the current issue of the Kyiv journal Politychna dumka,National Security and Defense Council head Volodymyr Horbulinobserves that Ukraine’s foreign policy doctrine has "de factorenounced the country’s non-bloc status" and reserves theright to seek membership in NATO. According to Horbulin, neitherinternational obligations nor membership of the CIS restrictsUkraine’s freedom to choose its military-political alliances.However, Horbulin writes, accession to NATO is "a long-termplan" and Ukraine’s immediate concern is to avoid fallinginto a security vacuum during the interim period. (Interfax-Ukraine,UNIAN, June 6-7) Written prior to the recent signing of the good-neighborlyrelations treaty with Russia and the Black Sea Fleet agreementwith that country, Horbulin’s article represents the most explicitaffirmation yet that Ukraine sees nonalignment as compatible withpreparations for eventual NATO membership.

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