RIGA. April 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko believes the majority of Ukrainians harbor European aspirations.
"I hope the people of Ukraine realize the need to join NATO. I have a feeling that the nation will understand and accept these values. This is where the government's and my position regarding European and Euro-Atlantic integration stems from," Yushchenko told Latvian businessmen in Riga on Thursday.
In the president's opinion, the anti-NATO campaign stirred up by some political forces was an attempt to score political capital.
"The anti-NATO policy that was promoted during the election campaign does not reflect the belief in our society. This is an attempt to earn extra dividends on the hitherto unconcluded issue," Yushchenko said.
Programs designed to inform society would be launched in cooperation with the alliance and its member-states to help people understand the essence of the rational defense concept and the new security policy, he said.
"This should lead us to a healthy integration policy," Yushchenko said.