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Bush urging Nato expansion east | Bush urging Nato expansion east |
(40 minutes later) | |
US President George Bush has repeated his call for Nato to expand eastwards and highlighted the countries he wants to welcome into the alliance. | |
Speaking in Romania ahead of Nato's summit in Bucharest, he said the former Soviet states of Ukraine and Georgia should be offered paths to membership. | |
"We must make clear that Nato welcomes the aspirations of Georgia and Ukraine for membership in Nato," said Mr Bush. | |
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 by Nato members France and Germany. | |
Mr Bush spoke at the Black Sea resort of Neptun on Wednesday, 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. | In a joint press conference, Mr Bush said he "strongly believed" Croatia, Albania and Macedonia should be able to join Nato as full members. |
Heart-to-heart | |
He added that Membership Action Plans should be given to Ukraine and Georgia, while discussions with Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina should be intensified, and Serbia should be offered closer co-operation. | |
The three-day summit of leaders from the 26-nation alliance is due to start in the Romanian capital Bucharest later. | |
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. | Nato enlargement and efforts to rally support for the Nato-led force in Afghanistan are the topics expected to dominate the agenda. |
Mr Bush also spoke of his forthcoming talks with outgoing Russian president Vladimir Putin - whom he will meet at the summit, and again at private talks in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi at the weekend. | |
The US leader said he would make clear to Mr Putin that "the Cold War is over and Russia is not our enemy". | |
"This is a good chance for me to sit down and have yet another heart-to-heart with him," he said. | |
"I call it an opportunity to sit down and have a good frank discussion again." |