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Bulgaria to press Bush on shield Bulgaria presses Bush on shield
(21 minutes later)
US President George W Bush is in Bulgaria for talks expected to focus on American plans to build a missile defence shield in Europe. US President George W Bush has held talks in Bulgaria on US plans to build a missile defence shield in Europe.
Bulgaria's government is concerned it may be left out of the plan, which would include facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. Bulgaria's government, a staunch US ally, is concerned it may be left out of the plan, which would include bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The issue has contributed to raised tensions between the US and Russia.The issue has contributed to raised tensions between the US and Russia.
Mr Bush also backed Bulgarian calls to free five nurses jailed in Libya on charges of infecting children with HIV. Mr Bush also backed Bulgarian calls to free five nurses sentenced to death in Libya on charges of infecting children with HIV.
Speaking at a news conference in Sofia with his counterpart Georgy Parvanov, Mr Bush said the release of the five nurses, who face the death penalty, was a "high priority". Speaking at a news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgy Parvanov in Sofia, Mr Bush said the nurses' release was a "high priority".
The issue of Kosovo, a key regional concern and the focus of talks in neighbouring Albania on Sunday, will also be on the agenda. Mr Bush spoke as an EU delegation was in Libya attempting to negotiate the release of the five.
Mr Bush's visit to Sofia is the final leg of his eight-day European tour. "They should be released and they should be allowed to return to their families," he said, adding that the US would make representations to Libya on behalf of the Bulgarian authorities.
The tour has taken the US president to the summit of G8 leaders in Germany, as well as the Czech Republic, Poland, Italy and Albania. Mr Bush's trip to Sofia is the final leg of an eight-day European tour including visits to the G8 summit in Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Italy and Albania.
Defence fearsDefence fears
During formal talks with Bulgarian President Georgy Parvanov and Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, Mr Bush was expected to thank Bulgaria for its support in Iraq and Afghanistan. During formal talks with President Parvanov and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, Mr Bush thanked Bulgaria for its support in Iraq and Afghanistan.
See a map of the US missile defence systemSee a map of the US missile defence system
Thirteen Bulgarians have been killed in Iraq, while the country's 200-strong force in Afghanistan is soon to expand to 800 troops.
More than 3,000 US troops are due to start arriving at a new base in Bulgaria in September, as part of a US policy to move many of its European forces closer to the Middle East.More than 3,000 US troops are due to start arriving at a new base in Bulgaria in September, as part of a US policy to move many of its European forces closer to the Middle East.
Diary: On tour with Bush Q&A: Missile defenceDiary: On tour with Bush Q&A: Missile defence
The former Communist bloc nation joined Nato in 2004, and became a member of the European Union this year.The former Communist bloc nation joined Nato in 2004, and became a member of the European Union this year.
But Bulgaria remains concerned that despite its loyalty, much of the country would fall outside the range of the US missile shield.But Bulgaria remains concerned that despite its loyalty, much of the country would fall outside the range of the US missile shield.
However, talks to include Bulgaria in the missile defence plans will only inflame tensions with nearby Russia, which views the system as a threat and a challenge to its influence in the region, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale.However, talks to include Bulgaria in the missile defence plans will only inflame tensions with nearby Russia, which views the system as a threat and a challenge to its influence in the region, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale.
Russia opposes the plan, which it regards as a threat, and President Vladimir Putin has threatened to point Russian missiles at Europe in response.Russia opposes the plan, which it regards as a threat, and President Vladimir Putin has threatened to point Russian missiles at Europe in response.
The US says its missile shield is not directed at Russia, but at what it considers "rogue states" such as Iran.The US says its missile shield is not directed at Russia, but at what it considers "rogue states" such as Iran.
'Distinguished guest''Distinguished guest'
On Sunday, Mr Bush received a hero's welcome in Albania, a staunch ally in his country's "war on terror". On Sunday, Mr Bush received a hero's welcome in Albania, another staunch ally, and reiterated his support for a UN plan for independence for Kosovo.
He met Albanian soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and reiterated his support for the UN's plan for Kosovo's independence from Serbia. His sentiments were welcomed in Kosovo but rejected by a spokesman for the Serbian government, which opposes independence.
He said it was time to "get moving" on Kosovo despite opposition from Russia. The G8 failed to reach a consensus on the Kosovo issue at a summit last week.
In Kosovo, Prime Minister Agim Ceku welcomed Mr Bush's support. In Belgrade, however, a spokesman for Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's party said his government would "reject any such proclamation". Russia remains strongly opposed to the blueprint for independence laid out in April by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
The G8 failed to reach consensus on the issue this week, with strong opposition from Russia to the independence blueprint laid out by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari in April.
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