Ukrainian president pledges referendums on NATO, EU membership

KIEV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko pledged Thursday that his countrymen would be consulted by referendum on whether they wanted to join the European Union and NATO.
"My friends, I guarantee to you that the formation of the national position on questions such as entry into the EU and NATO will be done by way of a referendum," he said live on national television channels.
He said NATO membership was "not at the moment on the agenda" and that Ukrainians should concentrate on integration with Europe and warmer relations with Russia.
Yushchenko, who came to power in his country's orange revolution, has not hidden his wish to see Ukraine win full EU and NATO membership.

05/12/2005 20:52 GMT