The proposal by U.S. President George W. Bush of launching the accession process for Ukraine and Georgia was most likely to be rejected at the Bucharest NATO summit.
Leaders of the 26 NATO nations will discuss the issue Thursday to give a definite answer on the issue.
Briefing reporters Wednesday night after a working dinner of the leaders, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the chances were small to launch at the summit Membership Action Plan (MAP), the gateway leading to NATO membership in five to ten years.
"I am happy to be proven wrong. But for the moment, I do not expect Membership Action Plan for Georgia and Ukraine," Appathurai told reporters.
The leaders reaffirmed NATO's "open door" policy and were of the view that MAP for the two countries was a matter not of whether, but of when, said the spokesman.
"They are in principle eligible to apply for NATO membership and to be considered for NATO membership," said Appathurai, adding that MAP did not mean guaranteed membership.
The leaders also reiterated there is no veto by third parties, apparently in reference to opposition by Russia.
Russia has warned that NATO membership for the two former Soviet republics would bring instability in the region.
The rejection means a diplomatic setback for Bush, who has strongly wished the summit, his final one before leaving office, would start the process for the two former Soviet republics.
Germany and France, backed by several smaller nations, rejected the idea, saying that it would further strain relations with Russia after Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence on Feb. 17.
Furthermore, the leaders would prefer to make a decision until a new U.S. president takes office next year.
"We are convinced that it is too early to grant both states the status," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said upon her arrival in Bucharest for the three-day summit, starting Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua
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