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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Bulgaria to press Bush on shield | Bulgaria to press Bush on shield |
| (about 3 hours 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 is in Bulgaria for talks expected to focus on American 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 is concerned it may be left out of the plan, which would include facilities 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. | |
| 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". | |
| The issue of Kosovo, a key regional concern and the focus of talks in neighbouring Albania on Sunday, will also be on the agenda. | 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's visit to Sofia is the final leg of his eight-day European tour. | Mr Bush's visit to Sofia is the final leg of his eight-day European tour. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Defence fears | Defence 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. | |
| See a map of the US missile defence system | See a map of the US missile defence system |
| 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 defence | Diary: 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, a staunch ally in his country's "war on terror". |
| 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. | 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. |
| He said it was time to "get moving" on Kosovo despite opposition from Russia. | He said it was time to "get moving" on Kosovo despite opposition from Russia. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| Return to story | Return to story |