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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Bush urging Nato expansion east | Bush urging Nato expansion east |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has repeated his call for Nato to expand eastwards. | US President George W Bush has repeated his call for Nato to expand eastwards. |
| 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. |
| Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would not sulk over the expansion plans - but stressed that they would not "go unanswered". | Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would not sulk over the expansion plans - but stressed that they would not "go unanswered". |
| "This will not be left without an answer, I can assure you," Mr Lavrov told parliament in Moscow. | "This will not be left without an answer, I can assure you," Mr Lavrov told parliament in Moscow. |
| "But we will respond pragmatically, not like small boys in school who sulk at those who bully them, run out of the room, slam the door and start crying in the corner. | "But we will respond pragmatically, not like small boys in school who sulk at those who bully them, run out of the room, slam the door and start crying in the corner. |
| "We must concentrate on increasing our economic power and taking our defence capabilities to a higher technologic level." | "We must concentrate on increasing our economic power and taking our defence capabilities to a higher technologic level." |
| More time | More time |
| Mr Bush said Georgia and Ukraine should be offered "a clear path" towards the goal of Nato membership. | Mr Bush said Georgia and Ukraine should be offered "a clear path" towards the goal of Nato membership. |
| "Nato membership must remain open to all of Europe's democracies that seek it, and are ready to share in the responsibilities of Nato," he went on. | "Nato membership must remain open to all of Europe's democracies that seek it, and are ready to share in the responsibilities of Nato," he went on. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Cold War is over and Russia is not our enemy George W Bush Uncertainty as Nato door opens class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7325632.stm">Bush praises Nato Afghan pledges | |
| 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." | 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." |
| French prime minister Francois Fillon said on Tuesday of Ukrainian and Georgian membership: "We think that it is not the correct response to the balance of power in Europe." | French prime minister Francois Fillon said on Tuesday of Ukrainian and Georgian membership: "We think that it is not the correct response to the balance of power in Europe." |
| 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. |
| He added that Membership Action Plans should be extended to Ukraine and Georgia, and strongly supported calls by Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina for "intensified dialogue" on membership. "We ought to open the door to closer cooperation with Serbia," he also said. | He added that Membership Action Plans should be extended to Ukraine and Georgia, and strongly supported calls by Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina for "intensified dialogue" on membership. "We ought to open the door to closer cooperation with Serbia," he also said. |
| He also urged Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan. | He also urged Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan. |
| Open door | Open door |
| Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told the BBC he supported membership for the former Soviet states. | Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told the BBC he supported membership for the former Soviet states. |
| "There's no way that the door will be locked for Ukraine and Georgia," he said. | "There's no way that the door will be locked for Ukraine and Georgia," he said. |
| "The Nato Treaty very clearly states that European democracies fulfilling their criteria for Nato membership are welcome." | "The Nato Treaty very clearly states that European democracies fulfilling their criteria for Nato membership are welcome." |
| Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he understood Russian concerns but added that the "final decision will be taken by the allies and not by anybody else". | Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he understood Russian concerns but added that the "final decision will be taken by the allies and not by anybody else". |
| 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. | 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." |