Rescue or Doom? NATO's Balkan Hopefuls Beg to Differ
Most Romanians have pinned all hope for prosperity and stability on NATO but in neighboring Bulgaria some worry joining the military pact means doom -- radiation, pollution and even volcanic eruptions, Reuters reported.
Bulgaria's tiny southern village of Zmeyovo has lived in fear since a decision to destroy some 100 Soviet-made missiles a few miles (km) away as part of Sofia's NATO entry obligations.
"It could well be a second Chernobyl. We may not be able to breathe the air and drink the water," said Nitsa Georgieva.
"We know that decisions are being taken at the top level and nobody cares about people's opinion. But after all what is the benefit of joining NATO? Is it going to raise my pension of 70 levs ($35 a month)?" she asked.
The government of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Bulgaria's former king who won elections in June 2001, has set joining NATO and the European Union as top policy goals.
Sofia, once the Soviet Union's closest ally, has pledged to destroy the missiles before NATO's November summit in Prague, where Bulgaria and Romania hope to win invitations after being left out of a first enlargement round.
The Romanian government has tied its political fate to NATO membership, saying failure "equals death".
"We have said if this thing does not happen, our government resigns," Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said recently.
Polls show that while more than 80 percent of Romania's 22 million people back NATO entry, only half of Bulgaria's eight million support it, compared to 75 percent for the European Union.
--- Humiliating Cuts --- Bulgarians say NATO-required reforms, including cuts in the armed forces which will fuel high unemployment, are humiliating for a country proud of its victories in two world wars.
"Armed forces (50,000) equaling the number of seats at the national soccer stadium, one airworthy MIG-29 (fighter) and no money to buy fuel for the few remaining tanks -- do you call it an army?" said Georgi Vesselinov, 35-year-old Sofia resident.
Bulgaria signed a deal with Washington in May to destroy its arsenal of SS-23, Scud and Frog missiles by the end of October.
the Russian-made missiles were also supplied to East Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia but were destroyed.
But pledges by the United States and Bulgarian Defense Ministry to guarantee safety and environmental protection have so far failed to calm people's fears that the destruction may cause radiation leaks, activate ancient volcanoes and lead to earthquakes.
"People are scared. Nobody has come here to explain what will be the consequences and why they are doing it," said Zmeyovo's Municipal Secretary Stanka Koseva.
Concern has spread to the rest of the country, raising questions of whether NATO was worth the cost.
"We even don't know why they want to join NATO.
And it seems the government is ready for too big sacrifices to get there, but what would NATO give us in return?" Koseva asked.
Romania and Bulgaria, which recently decided to join forces in getting into Western blocs, say membership would help stabilize a region still reeling from a decade of wars in former Yugoslavia and encourage foreign investment.
Washington's shift in priorities after the September 11 attacks on the U.S. and warmer ties between Russia and the West may allow for a sweeping expansion of NATO in which up to seven ex-communist states may be invited to join in November.
--- Coveted NATO Ticket --- While Bulgarians doubt that joining NATO would boost incomes and create jobs in one of Europe's poorest corners, to the north and across the river Danube, Romanians say their government is not doing enough to win the coveted NATO ticket.
"NATO means safety, experience, ideas, investment.
everyone wants the government to do more. Our image (abroad) is not good, we must do our best to show the world we are not so backward," said 23-year-old Anamaria Sararu, visiting Bucharest's only Western-style mall with friends.
She said most of the throngs of visitors window-shopping at Benetton, Marks and Spencer's and the body shop could never buy any of the goods.
"Most people can't afford to shop at this mall," she said.
Part of an international chain, the restaurant in the dome-shaped mall is packed.
"For some it's an escape, for others something they could only find abroad," said restaurant manager Sorin Pirneci, 33.
Like many others, he believes that only joining NATO will bring about the changes needed to make Romania good for its people.
"NATO will bring a much better market, jobs, salaries, a better economy, a better standard of living. Once we're in NATO we'll be forced to be aligned to the standards of other member countries," he said.
Such views allowed the Romanian government last month to become the first country in the world to sign a controversial agreement with Washington, exempting Americans from a new war crimes court, to the shock of the European Union.
Brussels had urged Romania to wait for a common EU position in September but Bucharest, bending over backwards to please the U.S., said it saw no reason to delay.
Only the country's outspoken press saw fault in offending Europe to accommodate Washington. Most people on the street said they did not find their government was servile.
"I don't think we are subservient to NATO or the U.S.," said Irina Androne, a 24-year-old gift shop saleswoman. "The government is not doing enough to change the country. They must do more, start at the very bottom."