Subject: Despite Strong Arm Tactics, Slovene Opposition To NATO
At All-Time High
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 04:28:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rick Rozoff
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20021022-96501825.htm
Slovenians wary of joining NATO
By Nicholas Kralev
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
October 22, 2002
-[R]ecent polls reveal that a slow and painful effort
to boost support ratings, which fell to their lowest
level - 39 percent - in early summer, has failed.
-More significantly, opposition to joining NATO also
was at 39 percent. About 22 percent were undecided.
-"We are preparing to work in an international
environment," he said. "We have troops in Bosnia and
Kosovo, and we'd like to send special forces to
Afghanistan, but the politicians don't want to risk
public opinion."
-People here have a weird way of connecting things,"
Mr. Bebler said. "There is a correlation in their
minds between NATO and the United States [!?]. They
think the Bush administration will force NATO to march
in places like Iraq, so why be tricked into far-away
wars by reckless unilateralists?"
-"We can survive without NATO."
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Just when it seemed they had
convinced NATO that their 11-year-old state of 2
million deserves a membership invitation next month,
the Slovenian authorities discovered that they have
some more convincing to do, this time among their own
people.
For several years, NATO officials have done
little to hide their assessment that, when it comes to
taking in new members, Slovenia is the easiest case.
It is politically stable, and its economy is the envy
of the former communist bloc.
But an unusually vocal outcry against joining the
Western alliance has come as a slap in the face for
the country's government, prompting NATO to make an
addition to its list of accession requirements -
public support for membership.
"We want to see public support of well over 50
percent," one senior NATO official said. "As a member,
a country incurs serious common-defense
responsibilities under Article 5, and the government
should have the full backing of its people."
The alliance invoked Article 5, which says that
an attack on one member is an attack on all, for the
first time a day after the September 11 attacks last
year.
Although the official said that he and his
colleagues "have been pleased" by the Slovenian
government's campaign to raise public support for
membership, recent polls reveal that a slow and
painful effort to boost support ratings, which fell to
their lowest level - 39 percent - in early summer, has
failed.
"We are cautious of a full-blown campaign and
concerned about negative reactions," said Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel, referring to charges that the
government is wasting taxpayers' money.
Anton Bebler, president of the Atlantic Council
of Slovenia, a group of intellectuals advocating NATO
membership, said there is a perception among
Slovenians that if the authorities need to wage a
campaign on a certain policy issue, arguments based
solely on its merits are not enough.
The government of Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek
has published various materials, such as books and
manuals with facts and frequently asked questions
about NATO, and a newsletter, which it sent to 683,000
households. It is also operating a toll-free phone
service where anyone can address inquiries and
concerns, said Nada Serajnik Sraka, state
undersecretary for public relations.
But Ali Zerdin, a reporter for Mladina (Youth), a
weekly newsmagazine, said that most people think the
newsletter is a "joke" and instead are seeking "clear
answers from the government what exactly our
responsibilities as a NATO member will be."
According to a survey by the University of
Ljubljana's faculty of social sciences, used by the
government and considered by many the most accurate
polling data available, public support for membership
has been lingering below 50 percent for the past two
years.
It reached its highest level - 62 percent - in
the spring of 1997, just before the first round of
expansion at the alliance's Madrid summit, where
Slovenia's bid failed. It fluctuated between 50
percent and 60 percent the next four years but dropped
to 48 percent late last year, falling further to 39
percent this summer.
The latest results showed that things remained
unchanged in September, even though all major
political parties, except the National Party, support
membership. More significantly, opposition to joining
NATO also was at 39 percent. About 22 percent were
undecided.
"As reasons for their support, the respondents
state that NATO provides the best form of collective
security, that they consider collective security
cheaper and that membership would have positive
economic implications for Slovenia," the team that
conducted the survey said in an analysis accompanying
the results.
"The reasons against entry given by the
respondents are high expenses, disagreement with the
participation of Slovenian soldiers in military
operations abroad and the fact that the state is not
under threat," it said.
The survey also found that of those participants
who said they would take part in a referendum on NATO
membership, 55 percent would vote for and 45 percent
against it.
Unlike in any other aspirant country, a
referendum seems all but certain in Slovenia, most
probably in the period after the Prague invitation and
before ratification of enlargement begins in the
parliaments of NATO's 19 member states.
"Some want a referendum before Prague, but you
can't decline a dinner invitation before you receive
it," Mr. Rupel said.
Officials blame the skeptical public opinion on
what it calls an "anti-campaign" in the press that, it
says, has been undermining the government's effort for
more than a year. The foreign minister was the only
Cabinet member to respond to the negative press and,
according to some officials, was reprimanded in
private by his boss, Mr. Drnovsek.
Defense Minister Anton Grizold attributes the
strong opposition to NATO membership to a practice
reminiscent of the Yugoslav era, although Slovenia has
been independent since 1991.
"Journalists were considered political workers in
former Yugoslavia, and some still are," he said. "We
are still discovering our statehood responsibilities."
Blaz Zgaga, a national security reporter for
Vecer (Evening) daily, disagreed, but he acknowledged
that "many journalists don't have college education."
He also dismissed the government's contention
that the media are conducting a "systematic campaign
or conspiracy." But he conceded that his editor
"refused to publish an opinion piece I had written
advocating NATO membership because she didn't want to
go against public opinion."
In Slovenia, unlike in the United States, news
reporters also write editorials and other opinion
articles, which can be published on both the op-ed and
news pages.
Some political observers credit the press with
opening a debate that otherwise would never have been
initiated.
"The government didn't feel that discussion was
necessary, and it didn't listen to those against
membership," said Vlado Miheljak, a professor of
social sciences and columnist for the daily Delo. "The
debate was more about democratic procedure, and it was
forced by the media."
The military, which is the most trusted Slovenian
institution and has an approval rating of more than 70
percent, has not been affected by the public debate,
said Lt. Col. Dobran Bozic, commander of the army's
10th Motorized Battalion.
"We are preparing to work in an international
environment," he said. "We have troops in Bosnia and
Kosovo, and we'd like to send special forces to
Afghanistan, but the politicians don't want to risk
public opinion."
In nearly two dozen interviews, political and
military leaders, civil servants, analysts and
journalists said that the public outcry was in large
part a result of disapproval of the Bush
administration's foreign policy.
"People here have a weird way of connecting
things," Mr. Bebler said. "There is a correlation in
their minds between NATO and the United States. They
think the Bush administration will force NATO to march
in places like Iraq, so why be tricked into far-away
wars by reckless unilateralists?"
Mr. Grizold and Janez Jansa, president of the
Social Democratic Party, said that people do not
understand U.S. policy because no one explains it to
them.
"Every event linked to the United States and NATO
is shown negatively in the media," Mr. Jansa said.
"The Washington correspondent of the national TV
reports as if from an enemy country."
Mr. Rupel expressed some frustration with a few
of the administration's policies that are often at
odds with those of Washington's European allies.
"I've met Bush, and he is a good and
straightforward man," Mr. Rupel said. "Slovenia would
love to stay in the group of American friends, but
some statements from Washington are not helpful in
making our policies popular."
Mr. Grizold, however, said that "as a true
partner," Slovenia will support the United States.
"Otherwise, how can we be a credible partner? We have
to stick together and express solidarity."
He also said his country would fulfill NATO's
requirement that 2 percent of the gross domestic
product (GDP) be spent on defense by 2008, in spite of
strong objections by some.
But Mr. Miheljak said that many people doubt the
government's assertion that building a defense system
outside NATO would be much more expensive and that
they feel that "we can defend ourselves with less than
2 percent of GDP."
"We are economically stable, and we don't need
NATO like some other candidates," he said, referring
to Bulgaria and Romania, whose economies have not done
as well. "We can survive without NATO."
At All-Time High
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 04:28:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rick Rozoff
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20021022-96501825.htm
Slovenians wary of joining NATO
By Nicholas Kralev
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
October 22, 2002
-[R]ecent polls reveal that a slow and painful effort
to boost support ratings, which fell to their lowest
level - 39 percent - in early summer, has failed.
-More significantly, opposition to joining NATO also
was at 39 percent. About 22 percent were undecided.
-"We are preparing to work in an international
environment," he said. "We have troops in Bosnia and
Kosovo, and we'd like to send special forces to
Afghanistan, but the politicians don't want to risk
public opinion."
-People here have a weird way of connecting things,"
Mr. Bebler said. "There is a correlation in their
minds between NATO and the United States [!?]. They
think the Bush administration will force NATO to march
in places like Iraq, so why be tricked into far-away
wars by reckless unilateralists?"
-"We can survive without NATO."
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Just when it seemed they had
convinced NATO that their 11-year-old state of 2
million deserves a membership invitation next month,
the Slovenian authorities discovered that they have
some more convincing to do, this time among their own
people.
For several years, NATO officials have done
little to hide their assessment that, when it comes to
taking in new members, Slovenia is the easiest case.
It is politically stable, and its economy is the envy
of the former communist bloc.
But an unusually vocal outcry against joining the
Western alliance has come as a slap in the face for
the country's government, prompting NATO to make an
addition to its list of accession requirements -
public support for membership.
"We want to see public support of well over 50
percent," one senior NATO official said. "As a member,
a country incurs serious common-defense
responsibilities under Article 5, and the government
should have the full backing of its people."
The alliance invoked Article 5, which says that
an attack on one member is an attack on all, for the
first time a day after the September 11 attacks last
year.
Although the official said that he and his
colleagues "have been pleased" by the Slovenian
government's campaign to raise public support for
membership, recent polls reveal that a slow and
painful effort to boost support ratings, which fell to
their lowest level - 39 percent - in early summer, has
failed.
"We are cautious of a full-blown campaign and
concerned about negative reactions," said Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel, referring to charges that the
government is wasting taxpayers' money.
Anton Bebler, president of the Atlantic Council
of Slovenia, a group of intellectuals advocating NATO
membership, said there is a perception among
Slovenians that if the authorities need to wage a
campaign on a certain policy issue, arguments based
solely on its merits are not enough.
The government of Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek
has published various materials, such as books and
manuals with facts and frequently asked questions
about NATO, and a newsletter, which it sent to 683,000
households. It is also operating a toll-free phone
service where anyone can address inquiries and
concerns, said Nada Serajnik Sraka, state
undersecretary for public relations.
But Ali Zerdin, a reporter for Mladina (Youth), a
weekly newsmagazine, said that most people think the
newsletter is a "joke" and instead are seeking "clear
answers from the government what exactly our
responsibilities as a NATO member will be."
According to a survey by the University of
Ljubljana's faculty of social sciences, used by the
government and considered by many the most accurate
polling data available, public support for membership
has been lingering below 50 percent for the past two
years.
It reached its highest level - 62 percent - in
the spring of 1997, just before the first round of
expansion at the alliance's Madrid summit, where
Slovenia's bid failed. It fluctuated between 50
percent and 60 percent the next four years but dropped
to 48 percent late last year, falling further to 39
percent this summer.
The latest results showed that things remained
unchanged in September, even though all major
political parties, except the National Party, support
membership. More significantly, opposition to joining
NATO also was at 39 percent. About 22 percent were
undecided.
"As reasons for their support, the respondents
state that NATO provides the best form of collective
security, that they consider collective security
cheaper and that membership would have positive
economic implications for Slovenia," the team that
conducted the survey said in an analysis accompanying
the results.
"The reasons against entry given by the
respondents are high expenses, disagreement with the
participation of Slovenian soldiers in military
operations abroad and the fact that the state is not
under threat," it said.
The survey also found that of those participants
who said they would take part in a referendum on NATO
membership, 55 percent would vote for and 45 percent
against it.
Unlike in any other aspirant country, a
referendum seems all but certain in Slovenia, most
probably in the period after the Prague invitation and
before ratification of enlargement begins in the
parliaments of NATO's 19 member states.
"Some want a referendum before Prague, but you
can't decline a dinner invitation before you receive
it," Mr. Rupel said.
Officials blame the skeptical public opinion on
what it calls an "anti-campaign" in the press that, it
says, has been undermining the government's effort for
more than a year. The foreign minister was the only
Cabinet member to respond to the negative press and,
according to some officials, was reprimanded in
private by his boss, Mr. Drnovsek.
Defense Minister Anton Grizold attributes the
strong opposition to NATO membership to a practice
reminiscent of the Yugoslav era, although Slovenia has
been independent since 1991.
"Journalists were considered political workers in
former Yugoslavia, and some still are," he said. "We
are still discovering our statehood responsibilities."
Blaz Zgaga, a national security reporter for
Vecer (Evening) daily, disagreed, but he acknowledged
that "many journalists don't have college education."
He also dismissed the government's contention
that the media are conducting a "systematic campaign
or conspiracy." But he conceded that his editor
"refused to publish an opinion piece I had written
advocating NATO membership because she didn't want to
go against public opinion."
In Slovenia, unlike in the United States, news
reporters also write editorials and other opinion
articles, which can be published on both the op-ed and
news pages.
Some political observers credit the press with
opening a debate that otherwise would never have been
initiated.
"The government didn't feel that discussion was
necessary, and it didn't listen to those against
membership," said Vlado Miheljak, a professor of
social sciences and columnist for the daily Delo. "The
debate was more about democratic procedure, and it was
forced by the media."
The military, which is the most trusted Slovenian
institution and has an approval rating of more than 70
percent, has not been affected by the public debate,
said Lt. Col. Dobran Bozic, commander of the army's
10th Motorized Battalion.
"We are preparing to work in an international
environment," he said. "We have troops in Bosnia and
Kosovo, and we'd like to send special forces to
Afghanistan, but the politicians don't want to risk
public opinion."
In nearly two dozen interviews, political and
military leaders, civil servants, analysts and
journalists said that the public outcry was in large
part a result of disapproval of the Bush
administration's foreign policy.
"People here have a weird way of connecting
things," Mr. Bebler said. "There is a correlation in
their minds between NATO and the United States. They
think the Bush administration will force NATO to march
in places like Iraq, so why be tricked into far-away
wars by reckless unilateralists?"
Mr. Grizold and Janez Jansa, president of the
Social Democratic Party, said that people do not
understand U.S. policy because no one explains it to
them.
"Every event linked to the United States and NATO
is shown negatively in the media," Mr. Jansa said.
"The Washington correspondent of the national TV
reports as if from an enemy country."
Mr. Rupel expressed some frustration with a few
of the administration's policies that are often at
odds with those of Washington's European allies.
"I've met Bush, and he is a good and
straightforward man," Mr. Rupel said. "Slovenia would
love to stay in the group of American friends, but
some statements from Washington are not helpful in
making our policies popular."
Mr. Grizold, however, said that "as a true
partner," Slovenia will support the United States.
"Otherwise, how can we be a credible partner? We have
to stick together and express solidarity."
He also said his country would fulfill NATO's
requirement that 2 percent of the gross domestic
product (GDP) be spent on defense by 2008, in spite of
strong objections by some.
But Mr. Miheljak said that many people doubt the
government's assertion that building a defense system
outside NATO would be much more expensive and that
they feel that "we can defend ourselves with less than
2 percent of GDP."
"We are economically stable, and we don't need
NATO like some other candidates," he said, referring
to Bulgaria and Romania, whose economies have not done
as well. "We can survive without NATO."