U.S. President George W. Bush is welcoming two new members to NATO. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush hailed the transformation of the Balkans in a speech in a town square in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.

President George W. Bush greets the crowd at Zagreb's St. Mark square, Croatia, 05 Apr 2008

President Bush told the crowd, "The great church in this square has stood since the Middle Ages. Over the centuries it has seen long dark winters of occupation and tyranny and war. But the spring is here at last."

Fresh from the NATO summit that invited Croatia to join the alliance, President Bush talked about how that country has left a troubled past behind to become a free state.

"The Croatian people have overcome war and hardship to build peaceful relations with your neighbors and to build a maturing democracy in one of the most beautiful countries on the face of the earth," said Mr. Bush.

Croatia was one of three Balkan countries deemed by NATO leaders to meet the criteria for membership. Two - Croatia and Albania - are beginning the admission process immediately. The third - Macedonia - must wait until it settles a name dispute with its neighbor, Greece.

General view shows foreign leaders attending the summit of the NATO Ukraine Commission at the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, 04 Apr 2008

He noted that Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have all deployed troops to Afghanistan, and Croatian and Albanian forces have served in Iraq. He said as countries that have experienced life under repression, they are serving as an example to others.

"There are those who actually wonder if people were better off under their old tyranny. You can tell them that freedom is the only real path to prosperity, security and peace," said the U.S. president.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bucharest, 04 Apr 2008

Their talks - at a Russian presidential retreat - are expected to focus on U.S. plans to put a missile defense system in central Europe.

Russia is opposed to the idea, saying it could lead to a new arms race. President Bush has tried to reassure Moscow, saying the system is designed to counter a threat from rogue states in the Middle East, such as Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the Kremlin in Moscow, 17 Mar 2008

A senior White House official says President Bush has described the session in Sochi as a meeting of "two old warhorses" - a reference to a long working relationship that is nearing an end as both men prepare to leave the presidency of their respective nations.