Ukraine, Georgia not likely on fast path to NATO membership

BUCHAREST, Romania -- A NATO official said today he did not expect that Georgia and Ukraine would be placed on track for membership in the military alliance at the organization's summit.

The meetings that got under way Wednesday have been troubled by divisions, most notably opposition from France and Germany to giving those former Soviet republics a plan for eventually joining NATO. President Bush is lobbying for the two countries to gain a path toward eventually joining NATO.

But NATO spokesman James Appathurai said after NATO leaders met for dinner that he did not expect Georgia or Ukraine to receive a membership action plan at this summit.

Instead the alliance would offer a statement saying NATO's door would remain open to them in the future if they move ahead with political and military reforms, diplomats say.

The alliance is due to invite Croatia and Albania to join, but Greece is pledging to veto Macedonia's bid unless there is a last-minute agreement to change the candidate country's name. Greece says that implies a claim on its northern region, also called Macedonia.

"Until the name issue is resolved there cannot be consensus" on Macedonia's bid, Appathurai said.

With the U.S. pressing for greater military contributions in Afghanistan, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered hundreds of extra troops for the NATO mission, Appathurai said.

Canada has threatened to pull its troops from southern Afghanistan unless other allies send an additional 1,000 combat troops to help.

Sarkozy offered a battalion -- normally about 700 to 800 troops -- for the volatile eastern region, the spokesman said. That would free up U.S. troops to move south. Appathurai said the offers on the opening day of the summit will met Canada's demands.