Ukraine and Georgia push for new alliance

The Ukrainian President, Viktor Yushchenko, and his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, have called for a new alliance to promote freedom and democracy. The pair issued a joint statement saying that the Commonwealth of Democratic Choice will become a “powerful tool for resolving frozen conflicts and human rights abuses.”

When its inaugurated in the autumn, the leaders say the new alliance will stretch across Europe, from the Atlantic to the Caspian regions. But it is unclear which specific countries will join. The plan is likely to concern Russia. Moscow views recent massive uprisings against unpopular regimes as part of a Western guided effort to undermine its influence in the region. The Kremlin might also be angered by the name of the group which is similar to the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States – a collection of ex-Soviet nations that includes both Georgia and Ukraine.

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