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Bush urging Nato expansion east | Bush urging Nato expansion east |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President George W 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. | 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. | "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, while Nato members France and Germany have warned that it will worsen relations with Moscow. | |
German defence minister Franz Josef Jung said on Wednesday that Berlin did not oppose Nato membership for Ukraine and Georgia, but added: "It will still take some more time to create the exact conditions for Georgia and Ukraine to be able to contribute to guaranteeing security." | |
Mr Bush spoke at the Black Sea resort of Neptun on Wednesday, where he met Romania's President Traian Basescu. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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 most important 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. | 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". | 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. | "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." | "I call it an opportunity to sit down and have a good frank discussion again." |