BUCHAREST, Romania — Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov today said in an interview that President Bush's unsuccessful push for two former Soviet bloc countries to enter the NATO membership process was promoting instability.
"We know that the American side is wiling to initiate a [membership action plan] for Ukraine and Georgia as soon as possible. We don't find it helpful for stability, for development of these countries, and also for strategic balance," Mr. Peskov told The Washington Times by telephone.
Mr. Peskov sidestepped a question on whether Russian pressure had a deciding role in denying Ukraine and Georgia access to a MAP invitation.
"This was an understanding that was reached in the framework of the allies," he said.
"Certainly Russia had its own opinion, and is continuing to present its arguments, insisting on the fact that continuation of the open-door policy of NATO actually is not brining extra stability and peace to the region," Mr. Peskov said.
Mr. Bush yesterday gave a high-profile speech here pressing NATO allies to allow Ukraine and Georgia into MAP over Russia's objections, arguing that "NATO membership must remain open to all of Europe's democracies that seek it, and are ready to share in the responsibilities of NATO membership."
MAP invitations for Georgia and Ukraine, Mr. Bush said, "would send a signal to their citizens that if they continue on the path to democracy and reform they will be welcomed into the institutions of Europe. It would send a signal throughout the region that these two nations are, and will remain, sovereign and independent states."
But Mr. Peskov pointed to recent instability in Georgia and strong domestic opposition within Ukraine to NATO membership as evidence that the two countries admission to MAP would "not contribute to stability in the areas surrounding Russia."
The White House has said this week that they thought concerns along these lines, expressed by Germany and France, could be addressed.
But after a three-hour dinner last night with the 25 other NATO heads of state, Mr. Bush came away empty-handed, and the White House afterward dialed back their rhetoric, saying any promise of future enrollment for the two countries would be success.
Mr. Peskov said there are no "winners and losers in this situation." But the Kremlin had hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin might not attend the NATO summit if Georgia and Ukraine were issued a MAP invitation.
"It's a win-win situation. We have a better environment for continuation of our dialogue with NATO," he said.
On the issue of missile defense, Mr. Peskov said it's "a little bit premature to speak about the outcome" of ongoing negotiations.
U.S. officials have said they believe Russian resistance to the plan is weakening, but Mr. Peskov said "the issue is too complicated and too sensitive to make judgments."
"We see more understanding from the American side of our concerns, and we appreciate that," Mr. Peskov said.
— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times
