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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| France sets date on Nato decision | France sets date on Nato decision |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy says France will make a decision on Nato by the end of the year, indicating it will return to the organisation's military command. | President Nicolas Sarkozy says France will make a decision on Nato by the end of the year, indicating it will return to the organisation's military command. |
| He told a Nato summit the move would come at the end of France's six-month EU presidency later this year. | He told a Nato summit the move would come at the end of France's six-month EU presidency later this year. |
| France withdrew from Nato's military structure in 1966 in protest at the dominance of US commanders. | France withdrew from Nato's military structure in 1966 in protest at the dominance of US commanders. |
| The summit will discuss links with Georgia and Ukraine after Nato said it would not offer them membership. | The summit will discuss links with Georgia and Ukraine after Nato said it would not offer them membership. |
| France and Germany had opposed US calls for the two former Soviet republics to be allowed to join the alliance. | France and Germany had opposed US calls for the two former Soviet republics to be allowed to join the alliance. |
| Afghan battalion | Afghan battalion |
| At the second day of the summit in Bucharest, Romania, Mr Sarkozy said: "I reaffirm here France's determination to pursue the process of renovating its relations with Nato. | At the second day of the summit in Bucharest, Romania, Mr Sarkozy said: "I reaffirm here France's determination to pursue the process of renovating its relations with Nato. |
| "At the end of the French [EU] presidency [on 31 December this year] the moment will have come to conclude this process and to take the necessary decisions for France to take its full place in Nato's structures." | "At the end of the French [EU] presidency [on 31 December this year] the moment will have come to conclude this process and to take the necessary decisions for France to take its full place in Nato's structures." |
| France withdrew from Nato in 1966 over US dominance in the alliance | France withdrew from Nato in 1966 over US dominance in the alliance |
| Analysts say France's full return to Nato could be formally announced at the alliance's next summit in April 2009. | Analysts say France's full return to Nato could be formally announced at the alliance's next summit in April 2009. |
| France has not taken full part in Nato's integrated military command since former president Charles de Gaulle withdrew, although it rejoined the military committee more than a decade ago. | France has not taken full part in Nato's integrated military command since former president Charles de Gaulle withdrew, although it rejoined the military committee more than a decade ago. |
| Mr Sarkozy also confirmed on Thursday that France would deploy a battalion - about 800 troops - to eastern Afghanistan, easing fears of a crisis within the Western coalition there. | Mr Sarkozy also confirmed on Thursday that France would deploy a battalion - about 800 troops - to eastern Afghanistan, easing fears of a crisis within the Western coalition there. |
| France currently has 1,430 troops in Afghanistan as part of a 47,000-strong Nato force. | |
| US President George W Bush said the move would free up some of its troops to bolster Canadian forces in the south. | US President George W Bush said the move would free up some of its troops to bolster Canadian forces in the south. |
| Canada has threatened to withdraw its contingent in Kandahar province unless other Nato countries sent reinforcements. | Canada has threatened to withdraw its contingent in Kandahar province unless other Nato countries sent reinforcements. |
| On Thursday, Mr Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown are expected to urge more Nato members to commit troops or extra resources to the battle against the Taleban. | On Thursday, Mr Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown are expected to urge more Nato members to commit troops or extra resources to the battle against the Taleban. |
| 'Poisoned atmosphere' | 'Poisoned atmosphere' |
| The BBC's Jonathan Marcus in Bucharest says Mr Sarkozy's announcement is a piece of good news after the summit atmosphere was poisoned by a night of diplomatic wrangling. | The BBC's Jonathan Marcus in Bucharest says Mr Sarkozy's announcement is a piece of good news after the summit atmosphere was poisoned by a night of diplomatic wrangling. |
| Mr Bush had wanted Nato membership invitations to three new members - Albania, Croatia and Macedonia. | Mr Bush had wanted Nato membership invitations to three new members - Albania, Croatia and Macedonia. |
| He had also sought membership action plans for Georgia and Ukraine, a kind of enhanced partnership that would set them firmly on the path to Nato membership. | He had also sought membership action plans for Georgia and Ukraine, a kind of enhanced partnership that would set them firmly on the path to Nato membership. |
| But the Americans seem to have badly judged the mood, says our diplomatic correspondent. | But the Americans seem to have badly judged the mood, says our diplomatic correspondent. |
| Greece strongly opposed Macedonia's membership due to a dispute over the country's name. | Greece strongly opposed Macedonia's membership due to a dispute over the country's name. |
| Germany and France resolutely opposed closer ties with Georgia and Ukraine. | Germany and France resolutely opposed closer ties with Georgia and Ukraine. |
| And there was sufficient support for the objectors to thwart US ambitions. | And there was sufficient support for the objectors to thwart US ambitions. |
| Our correspondent says damage limitation is now the order of the day - Albania and Croatia will be asked to join. | Our correspondent says damage limitation is now the order of the day - Albania and Croatia will be asked to join. |
| Nato spokesmen insist Macedonia will get its invitation once the name issue is resolved and a membership action plan for Georgia and Ukraine is not a matter of if, they say, but when. | Nato spokesmen insist Macedonia will get its invitation once the name issue is resolved and a membership action plan for Georgia and Ukraine is not a matter of if, they say, but when. |