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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. |
He also urged Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan. | He also urged Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan. |
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. |
Nato enlargement and efforts to rally support for the Nato-led force in Afghanistan are the topics expected to dominate the agenda. | |