KYIV - U.S. President George W. Bush says he supports bids by Ukraine and Georgia to be put on the path to NATO membership at this week’s alliance summit in Romania.

President Bush says his position is solid. He says he backs providing these two former Soviet Republics with NATO membership action plans, setting benchmarks for formally joining the alliance.

“We support MAP [NATO action plans] for Ukraine and Georgia,” said Mr. Bush.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the Ukrainian leader, Mr. Bush said it is in the best interest of all NATO members to bring these two nations into the fold.

“My stop here should be a clear signal to everybody that I mean what I say,” he said. “And, I mean it is in our interests for Ukraine to join.”

But Russia vehemently objects to further eastward expansion of NATO to its borders, saying such a move would threaten European security.

President Bush says Russia does not have a veto in the matter. And, he denies suggestions that he has struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which the United States would agreed to soften its stand on NATO expansion in exchange for concessions from Moscow on plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe.

“That is a misperception,” added Mr. Bush. “I strongly believe that Ukraine and Georgia should be given MAP and there is no trade-offs, period.”

Some NATO countries - most notably Germany - have already raised reservations about Ukraine and Georgia, saying they may not be ready for a membership action plan.

President Bush says his administration is working hard to convince alliance members to support the bid. And, President Yushchenko tried to strike a positive note, brushing aside a question about what he might do if the Bucharest summit turns down his request.

“I am sure we are taking the right track and we are acting within the framework of our national sovereignty,” said Mr. Yushchenko.

For his part, Mr. Bush says he will not prejudge the outcome of the NATO summit. Alliance officials are saying that, even if the requests for membership action plans for Ukraine and Georgia are turned down in Romania, that does not mean they are dead. As one senior NATO official put it: it is not a matter of if, but when.

Source:  VOA News