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Bush urging Nato expansion east Bush urging Nato expansion east
(20 minutes later)
US President George Bush has repeated his calls for Nato to expand eastwards and highlighted the countries he wants to welcome into the alliance.US President George Bush has repeated his calls for Nato to expand eastwards and highlighted the countries he wants to welcome into the alliance.
Speaking ahead of Nato's key summit in Bucharest, Mr Bush said the former Soviet states of Ukraine and Georgia should be offered membership plans.Speaking ahead of Nato's key summit in Bucharest, Mr Bush said the former Soviet states of Ukraine and Georgia should be offered membership plans.
The president spoke at the Black Sea resort of Neptun, where he met Romania's President Traian Basescu.
He also urged Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan.He also urged Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan.
In a press conference with the Romanian president, Mr Bush said he "strongly believed" Croatia, Albania and Macedonia should be able to join Nato as full members. The prospect of more ex-Soviet states joining Nato is opposed by Russia as well as members France and Germany.
Mr Bush spoke at the Black Sea resort of Neptun, where he met Romania's President Traian Basescu.
In a joint press conference, Mr Bush said he "strongly believed" Croatia, Albania and Macedonia should be able to join Nato as full members.
He added that Membership Action Plans should be extended to Ukraine and Georgia, while Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina should be offered intensified dialogue and Serbia closer co-operation.He added that Membership Action Plans should be extended to Ukraine and Georgia, while Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina should be offered intensified dialogue and Serbia closer co-operation.
The three-day summit of leaders from the 26-nation alliance is due to start in the Romanian capital Bucharest later on Wednesday.The three-day summit of leaders from the 26-nation alliance is due to start in the Romanian capital Bucharest later on Wednesday.
It is being billed as the biggest in the alliance's 59-year history.It is being billed as the biggest in the alliance's 59-year history.
The two topics expected to dominate the agenda are Nato enlargement and efforts to rally support for the Nato-led force in Afghanistan. Nato enlargement and efforts to rally support for the Nato-led force in Afghanistan are the topics expected to dominate the agenda.
The prospect of more former Soviet states joining the alliance is opposed by Russia as well as Nato members France and Germany.