In the Ternopil region the myths about NATO
the Collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the Declaration of Ukraine's independence has set an important task to ensure the national security of our country. Occupying an important place on the European continent, it was natural that in the Declaration on the state sovereignty in 1990, Ukraine declared intentions to participate in the European structures in the context of promoting and strengthening peace and security. Ignorance of the issues often creates a false impression about the nature of NATO creates myths about this organization. Myths can dispel only by providing society with objective information about the principles of existence and functioning of the Organization, its contribution to the strengthening of security on the European continent and in the world. The results of sociological research revealed such a characteristic for Ukraine myths about NATO: NATO is an aggressive imperialistic NATO may draw Ukraine into military action, NATO membership will require substantial additional funds and the like. This is partly due to the fact that over a long period during a confrontation between the socialist camp, the countries of Western democracy, the Soviet system was hiding truthful information about the ideology of NATO, as well as impose the opinion about the hostility of the Alliance. So, what is NATO? NATO is considered the most organized and effective international organization in the field of defense, security and politics. The ideology of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization contained in the Agreement concluded in Washington on 4 April 1949, ten European and two North American independent States, which has assumed a commitment to mutual defence. NATO is an intergovernmental organization, political and security Union, United by a common system of values, which include democracy, freedom, rule of law, resolve disputes peacefully and the market economy. Who are the members of NATO? On NATO consists of 28 countries: Belgium, UK, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, United States of America, Turkey, Hungary, France, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania and Croatia. What are the goals of NATO? Now, in the XXI, century the Alliance faces a complex strategic goals and objectives that are radically different from the past, including overcoming the consequences of Europe's division during the cold war, the strengthening of democracy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. We are talking about combat weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and the country with the illegitimate regimes which might be tempted to use such weapons or to transfer it to terrorists. To preserve its credibility and public confidence of the whole world, not only of the West, the Alliance needs to confront these threats and challenges. What are the values of protecting the Alliance? NATO continues to be virtually the only effective and highly organized by the Institute of collective security, which is based on high standards in the field of human rights protection, democratization of society, level of economic development and social achievements and military standards. The legal basis for the existence and activities of NATO The North Atlantic Treaty – the main instrument of the Organization that meets the requirements of the Charter of the United Nations and is a legitimate international Treaty. The member countries assumed the obligation to maintain and develop its defense capability, individually and collectively, to provide a basis for collective military planning. The Treaty establishing NATO provides a framework for consultations between members when one of them feels that its security is threatened. The Treaty stipulates that every European state that is able to develop the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to security in the North Atlantic area may be invited to membership in the Alliance. To reality through myths Myth 1. NATO aggressive bloc The challenge for NATO is a collective security and defence, not attack or aggression, as written in the founding document of the Organization – the Washington Treaty of 1949. NATO in its principles and activities adheres to the principles of the United Nations and operates under its mandate. The idea is to unite on a permanent basis for the sake of peace is a logical juxtaposition of the challenges of the Second world war and the need for joint action of the allies in the struggle against fascism. It was founded by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister of great Britain.Churchill in August 1941, during the signing of the "Atlantic Charter". The document that established the basis for the creation of NATO, was the basis for the Declaration by United Nations of 1942, and later the UN. Myth 2. Neutrality is a reliable guarantee of security World experience shows that neutrality is economically, politically and baspakova unprofitable. New unexpected threats and security challenges put in front of every civilized country the problem of choice: military neutrality or participation in the collective security system. At the same time, ensuring neutrality requires considerable financial resources. In neutral European countries, increasingly there is a tendency to review their status, grows the thought of the rejection of neutrality. So neutral Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland, not being members of the Alliance, take an active part, and Ukraine, in the NATO program "Partnership for peace". Finland started the preparation for the final agreement of the standards of its Armed Forces and infrastructure with NATO standards, which can actually mean the beginning of the accession process. Sweden has a military contingent of the ongoing NATO peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan reconstruction. In addition, all of these countries, except Switzerland, are members of the EU, which implements a common foreign and security policy, under which it is planned the creation of the EU rapid response. Myth 3. NATO membership is expensive In NATO there is a recommendation that the national defence expenditures of member countries of the Alliance should be about 2% of GDP. In 2000 the Verkhovna Rada adopted the decision to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP, however, real expenditure in 2005 amounted to 1,452% of GDP. The military component of NATO requires a significant investment in the national budget. However, most of the money is not spent on the arms build-up, and their qualitative improvement and to the creation of normal conditions of service and life of servicemen and their families. In European countries the military spend money on products from stores and service firms, creating new jobs and improving socio-economic status of local residents. Myth 4. Cooperation with NATO will ruin relations with Russia Kiev and Moscow have partnership relations with NATO. It should be noted that Russia in Ukraine before the beginning of such relationships, and their relationship steadily deepened. In the field of practical cooperation with NATO Russia ahead of Ukraine. It is therefore natural that NATO cannot be hostile to Russia. Russia has a common border with the existing members of NATO – Poland, the Baltic States, Norway. Thus, relations with these countries not only have become worse, they are even strengthened. Given the potential threat of international terrorism, ethnic, religious and economic crises, Ukraine's cooperation with the Alliance will significantly strengthen the country's national security, and therefore the safety of our strategically important neighbor – Russia. Enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Russia is actively cooperating with the producers of armaments in the NATO countries, held joint modernization of military equipment of the Armed Forces of Russia and countries-members of NATO performed air transportation for NATO. Myth 5. In the modern world there is no objective need for the existence of NATO Originally, NATO was created to confront the socialist system, and not the threat that international terrorism brings civilization, including both large and small countries. It is now abundantly clear that against a common threat required joint action. The nature of the threat has changed, you need to deal with it means, too, however, the principle remains the same: the collective defense of the countries United by common values. We can say that has changed the modern understanding of security. However, the need to ensure that it remained, even became more acute than in the late 40-ies of the last century. The Alliance throughout its existence has shown the ability to adapt and flexibility in relation to changing global security architecture. Myth 6. Membership in NATO worsens the investment climate It is known that any investor, before to invest their money in some country, be sure to check the stability of its political and economic system. Because the probability of interstate war in Europe is almost zero, the investor likely wants to know – what are the guarantees that the company tomorrow will not impose huge taxes? Where is the confidence that it did not natsionaliziruyut? This will not prevent foreign investment and will not force him to close the case? NATO membership is the best answer to these questions. The procedure for joining the Alliance is a comprehensive examination of the political and economic system of the country. If the state passes it and becomes a member of NATO, this means that it is stable and predictable political and economic partner. In addition, the experience of recent waves of NATO expansion when the membership got the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, shows that during these States of national programmes for the implementation of the Plan of action concerning membership and conduct of negotiations on accession to the volumes of direct foreign investments, primarily Western States, has increased by billions of dollars. Myth 7. With the entry into NATO of the countries are losing sovereignty Such a scenario is impossible and illogical for a NATO member. Without exception, all decisions on any matter relating to the activities of the Alliance or its members within the Alliance are decided on the basis of consensus, i.e. General agreement. This means that if there are objections on the part of at least one country, the decision can not be accepted. According to this principle works the UN Security Council, where on a permanent basis with veto power does not include all members of the organization, and only five. In this sense, NATO is a democratic organization. Myth 8. Members of the Alliance in General and Europeans in particular, dancing to the American tune USA is one of the strongest military and economic sense, of countries of the world. It is on the United States bear the greatest burden of military and financial contribution to the Alliance. The American presence in Europe has always played the role of an insurance policy for the continent. The opinion of the United States does not always coincide with the point of view of Europeans, but the Europeans themselves do not always play the same position. Europeans are concerned that the US is decisive in a military confrontation with terrorist threats that they, proceeding from its national interests and doctrines of behavior are not going to tolerate the existence of threats and challenges for the state and its citizens around the world, and spend too little money on support and development of the poorest countries in the world. The Americans, for their part, frustrated by the inability of Europe to act, and act cohesively to develop its defence capabilities, its current slow and often inefficient and bureaucratic institutions. If the governments of Europe and the United States will continue to communicate, hearing each other, NATO cannot be an effective organization, but if they work together, then NATO will have a future as a mechanism to achieve a common goal. Myth 9. NATO membership leads to the transformation countries in military camps, filled with NATO bases Article 17 of the Constitution of the Ukrainian state prohibits the stationing of foreign military bases on the territory of Ukraine and, accordingly, the adoption of such decisions without taking into account the attitude of the people of Ukraine can only be regarded as attempt of usurpation of power. However, it should be noted that the placement of military garrisons creates new opportunities for employment in locations. It is known since the times of the Soviet Union. In particular, for Ukraine, the agreement on temporary stay of Russian military base in Crimea until 2042 was given the opportunity to pay for the debts for energy supplies for some time to provide the state with cheap energy, to solve the problem of supplies of Soviet military heritage and to turn the page of difficult relations with the neighbour. Myth 10. Ukrainian peacekeepers - "cannon fodder" in the peacekeeping operations of the Alliance To participate in international peacekeeping operations is already involved and will be involved in the future solely a professional military on a voluntary basis. Almost all the countries-members of NATO have a professional army, in which no military service. In addition, the decision to send the Ukrainian military contingent in the international peacekeeping operations accepted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Myth 11. Ukraine is obliged to participate in all NATO's military operations Each country-member of NATO to decide whether to accept her participation in a particular military operation. It is also important that all decisions in NATO are taken by consensus. That is, no decision in NATO is not to be taken as disagreement with at least one member country of the Alliance. According to the materials of the NATO-Ukraine This was reported in the Ternopil regional state administration.Ïåðåâåäåíî ñåðâèñîì "ßíäåêñ.Ïåðåâîä÷èê": translate.yandex.ru.
Source: http://uzinform.com.ua/
