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Estonia welcomes first US visit | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US President George W Bush has arrived in Estonia, the first visit by a US leader to the former Soviet republic. | US President George W Bush has arrived in Estonia, the first visit by a US leader to the former Soviet republic. |
Mr Bush will hold talks with Estonia's president and prime minister ahead of a Nato summit in neighbouring Latvia. | Mr Bush will hold talks with Estonia's president and prime minister ahead of a Nato summit in neighbouring Latvia. |
The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are strong allies of the US, a legacy of US support during their years under Soviet rule. | The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are strong allies of the US, a legacy of US support during their years under Soviet rule. |
After the summit Mr Bush heads to Jordan to meet Middle East leaders to discuss the situation in Iraq. | After the summit Mr Bush heads to Jordan to meet Middle East leaders to discuss the situation in Iraq. |
Correspondents say the US president's brief stopover in Tallinn is being seen as a public display of thanks for Estonia's strong support in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. | Correspondents say the US president's brief stopover in Tallinn is being seen as a public display of thanks for Estonia's strong support in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
The Nato meeting in Riga, the capital of Latvia, is expected to focus on the alliance's role in Afghanistan. | The Nato meeting in Riga, the capital of Latvia, is expected to focus on the alliance's role in Afghanistan. |
The Baltic states all joined Nato in 2004. | |
Troop call | Troop call |
Mr Bush is likely to ask Nato members to contribute more funds to the Nato-led military campaign against the Taleban. | Mr Bush is likely to ask Nato members to contribute more funds to the Nato-led military campaign against the Taleban. |
Commanders have struggled to attract cash and troops to bolster the current force fighting in Afghanistan's southern regions. | Commanders have struggled to attract cash and troops to bolster the current force fighting in Afghanistan's southern regions. |
Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has called on members to contribute 2,500 more troops to bolster the 32,000 currently in the country. | Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has called on members to contribute 2,500 more troops to bolster the 32,000 currently in the country. |
"There is a recognition on the part of Nato that this is a terribly important mission, not only from the standpoint of Afghanistan but what it represents in terms of the struggle against al-Qaeda and [the] Taleban in the war on terror," US national security adviser Stephen Hadley said. | "There is a recognition on the part of Nato that this is a terribly important mission, not only from the standpoint of Afghanistan but what it represents in terms of the struggle against al-Qaeda and [the] Taleban in the war on terror," US national security adviser Stephen Hadley said. |
The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century. | The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century. |
In a week dominated by foreign affairs, Mr Bush will head to Jordan at the end of the Nato meeting. | In a week dominated by foreign affairs, Mr Bush will head to Jordan at the end of the Nato meeting. |
He will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Jordan amid increasing sectarian violence and fears the country is slipping into civil war. | He will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Jordan amid increasing sectarian violence and fears the country is slipping into civil war. |
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