Russian Envoy Warns NATO Over Ukraine Membership - BBC

Many politicians from North Artlantic Treaty Organization countries look at the world "like dogs" and see the world only in black and white, Russia`s ambassador to the military alliance told the BBC in comments released Sunday AFP via EasyBourse.com.

Dmitry Rogozin also said there was a "real threat that the Ukrainian state will fall apart" if it joins NATO, ahead of a meeting of its foreign ministers in Brussels Tuesday, who will discuss the proposed candidacy of Ukraine and Georgia.

"Unfortunately, many NATO politicians look at the world - I`m sorry - like dogs," he told BBC television, according to a transcript released by the broadcaster.

"Dogs see the world not in colour but in black and white. For us, NATO is an alien political bloc because entry into NATO for us is closed off - they will never invite us in.

"And when this alien political bloc is getting closer to our borders, it`s hugely alarming."

He added that if Ukraine were to "force the pace" of entry to NATO, it would provoke "a total political crisis in the country.

"By comparison, the current instability will look like a soap opera," he said. "Broadly speaking, there is a real threat that the Ukrainian state will fall apart."

Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet states which are neighbors of Russia, had hoped to secure a Membership Action Plan, which helps countries wanting to be NATO members prepare, at the two-day Brussels meeting.

But U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned that they are "not ready for membership."

Analysts say concerns about Georgia`s suitability were raised by the war in August which saw Russian troops pour into the country, while worries about Ukraine are linked to political turmoil and rows between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.