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Bush to meet with Ukrainian, Lithuanian presidents

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WASHINGTON, September 29 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President George Bush will hold separate meetings in Washington on Monday with his Ukrainian and Lithuanian counterparts, the White House's press service said.

Bush and Ukraine's Viktor Yushchenko will discuss "how to reinforce democracy, security and national sovereignty in Ukraine and throughout the region, and steps to advance Ukraine's efforts to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community," the White House said.

Bush and Yushchenko will also discuss the situation in the Black Sea region in the light of the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Moscow's offensive in response to Georgia's attempt to retake South Ossetia last month and its subsequent recognition of the rebel regions' independence had a knock-on effect on Ukraine, where divisions on Russia's policy in the Caucasus contributed to the breakup of the ruling coalition.

Ukraine is also nervous about its Crimea autonomous region, which is populated mainly by ethnic Russians and hosts Russia's Black Sea Fleet base. The majority of the Crimean population has opposed NATO's naval exercises.

At his meeting with Adamkus, Bush and the Lithuanian leader will discuss a number of global challenges, including the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Both Adamkus and Yushchenko travelled to Tbilisi to express support for Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili after Georgia's attack on South Ossetia.

Adamkus has also said that his country would be willing to host elements of a U.S. missile shield that Washington has said is needed as defense against attacks by "rogue states," such as Iran.

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