NATO summit to begin under tight security

BUCHAREST, April 2 (Xinhua) -- NATO is to kick off its biggest summit in history here Wednesday evening under tight security.

Leaders from 26 member states are supposed to discuss issues concerning NATO enlargement, its role in Afghanistan and whether or not to allow Ukraine and Georgia to start the admission process into the alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the summit as a guest.

A heated discussion at the three-day summit will be centered on Ukraine and Georgia.

U.S. President George W. Bush will push at the summit, the last one for him to take part in before leaving office, for the launch of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Georgia and Ukraine, a gateway to eventual membership.

However, Bush's call is expected to meet with opposition from Germany, France and some smaller nations which fear that MAP could further strain relations with Russia,

These countries would like to shelve the plan after a new U.S. president takes office next year.

Russia, an opponent of NATO expansion toward its western borders, strongly objects to the possible NATO membership for the two countries.

Security is tight in Bucharest as Romania, which joined the military bloc in 2004, mobilized thousands of police officers and security guards to safeguard the summit.

The blockage of a main street in Bucharest from the airport to the Parliament Palace, the venue of the summit, has caused complaints from the citizens.

Schools and offices in the city will be closed during the summit and protests have been kept away from the Parliament Palace.