Clinton says NATO's door still open to Ukraine

[July 02, 2010]  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is telling Ukrainian leaders that the door to membership in the NATO alliance remains open.

In remarks to a group of Ukrainian government officials, Clinton alluded to the newly elected Ukrainian government's closer alignment to Moscow and its decision to steer away from NATO membership.

Slowing her delivery to emphasize the NATO issue, Clinton said she wanted to make it clear that the U.S. would not pressure Ukraine to join NATO. She says it is up to Ukraine to choose its own alliances and to make such decisions in line with its own security interests.

Clinton arrived in the Ukrainian capital at dawn and was spending the day in a series of meetings with top government officials.

[Associated Press; By ROBERT BURNS]

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