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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush and Putin in Russian talks | Bush and Putin in Russian talks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush is to go to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the last in a series of scheduled talks between the two leaders. | US President George W Bush is to go to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the last in a series of scheduled talks between the two leaders. |
| The meeting, in Sochi, follows a summit in Romania where Mr Putin warned against the bloc's eastward expansion. | The meeting, in Sochi, follows a summit in Romania where Mr Putin warned against the bloc's eastward expansion. |
| Mr Bush is currently in the Croatian capital Zagreb. | Mr Bush is currently in the Croatian capital Zagreb. |
| Correspondents say the visit there is a chance for him to congratulate the Balkan state on its invitation to join Nato and celebrate its role as US ally. | Correspondents say the visit there is a chance for him to congratulate the Balkan state on its invitation to join Nato and celebrate its role as US ally. |
| Important message | Important message |
| Mr Bush flew to Croatia after the Nato summit and spent Friday in talks with its President, Stjepan Mesic. | Mr Bush flew to Croatia after the Nato summit and spent Friday in talks with its President, Stjepan Mesic. |
| Several thousand people are expected to hear Mr Bush's speech at a historic central Zagreb square. | Several thousand people are expected to hear Mr Bush's speech at a historic central Zagreb square. |
| The BBC's Helen Fawkes in Zagreb said the transformation of the former Yugoslav republic sent out an important message to other countries in the Balkans. | The BBC's Helen Fawkes in Zagreb said the transformation of the former Yugoslav republic sent out an important message to other countries in the Balkans. |
| Mr Bush is due to fly to Sochi on Russia's Black Sea coast later on Saturday to meet the Russian president. | Mr Bush is due to fly to Sochi on Russia's Black Sea coast later on Saturday to meet the Russian president. |
| Mr Putin is against plans to site US missiles in eastern Europe | Mr Putin is against plans to site US missiles in eastern Europe |
| Mr Putin leaves office next month, though he is expected to serve as prime minister under President-elect Dmitry Medvedev. | Mr Putin leaves office next month, though he is expected to serve as prime minister under President-elect Dmitry Medvedev. |
| Russia expressed its opposition to Nato plans to expand eastward at the summit. The former Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine are seeking to become members of the security pact. | |
| And, while the two countries were not offered a Membership Action Plan earlier this week, Nato did leave open the option of taking in the two countries. | |
| The Russian and American leaders are expected to discuss US plans to site a missile defence system in Eastern Europe. | |
| Russia has strongly criticised the US proposals, which would see interceptor missiles based in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. | Russia has strongly criticised the US proposals, which would see interceptor missiles based in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. |
| Nato countries agreed to back US plans to site a missile defence system in the two countries at the Bucharest summit. | Nato countries agreed to back US plans to site a missile defence system in the two countries at the Bucharest summit. |