If Lviv oblast turns away from NATO, it will become “black hole” – Oleh Soskin

July30200818:15

Ukraine’s pro-NATO scholars and experts are worried by dwindling support shown for joining the alliance by Lviv oblast residents. “If this process continues in the future, there will be a black hole at the border with the EU and NATO, with the Lviv oblast becoming an area of low support for EU and NATO integration of Ukraine. It will result in an absurdity because the Lviv oblast residents have always been in the front ranks of NATO supporters. Mentally, they are in Europe,” Oleh Soskin, director of the Institute for Transformation of Society and deputy head of Ukraine-NATO NGO coordinating council said, addressing a press conference in Lviv July 30.

O. Soskin based his arguments on a recent public opinion survey putting the number of NATO adherents in early 2008 at 75%, at 65% in March and at 59% in early July. “We have to understand what is going on. Why are the segments of undecided residents and those who favor neutrality growing? What are the causes? Could it be put to Russia’s growing expansion in the economy or failures in the public awareness campaign, or low activity of political and civic society circles? I think, it’s some kind of brainwashing or biased information or very successful efforts by the fifth column,” Soskin stressed.

In an attempt to provide full information to society, the Institute for Transformation of Society will open a regional center for Euroatlantic integration of Ukraine. Such centers operate in 10 cities in Ukraine. In Lviv, at the start priority will be given to gauging support for NATO in the Lviv oblast.

The center expects backing from the oblast and city administrations. Regrettably, Oleh Soskin noted, Lviv Mayor skips any conversations on European integration and NATO, same as the head of the Lviv oblast council. The only person who pledged his support for the poll is Lviv oblast Governor Mykola Kmit, Oleh Soskin added.

Comments

19:0105.09.08 Kostyantyn
- Agneta! There is no attempt to "encircle" Russia. The former Soviet bloc is begging to be integrated into Western security alliances because they have suffered the realities of Moscow's persistent xenophobic chauvanism. Look up the Holodomor for an good reason why Ukrainians hate moskal scum.
08:5412.08.08 Olof
- Dutchboy, your country was not able to put up any resistance when attacked by the germans in WW2.
  The Georgians, although fighting bravely and inflicting much more damage to the Russian murderers than the Kremlin admits, has slender chances against the Russians war machine.
  Had they been members of Nato, they would have been protected. With the Dutch WW2 experience in mind, you should be able to appreciate this fact. Come out of your brown caf?, inhale some fresh air and get real!
19:3311.08.08 DutchCitizen
- I am very surprised, as a dutch citizen, why a free country like Ukraine prefers to be a proxy-ally of american politics, instead of being an INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ON ITSELF. What advantage does NATO memebership give Ukraine, other then becoming a basis for anti-russian weapons and using ukrainian boys in future to attack Russia on behalf of american policies?
  Ukraine is solid enough on its own to join the non-alignment countries and have good relations with its neighbours. Really surprises me that you want to sell your own independence for a few cans of cocacola, so it seems ;)
08:2431.07.08 Agneta Norberg
- NATO is a war machine with nuclear weapons first strike policy.NATO is aggressively moving to the east with aim to encircle Russia for control and intimidation.West has already BEFORE the 1917 revolution been hungry for the gas and oilrich kontinent.West(US) won?t stop until they are in Sibiria. I am very happy that there are at least some Ukrainian with commin sence and unwilling to ignite WW3.Agneta