Bulgaria would support any solution for building a missile defence shield in Europe provided that it is not aimed at a third country, Russia included.

The assurance was given by Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov at a press conference after meeting US President George Bush in Sofia.

"Bulgaria should not have to choose between the friendship with the US and the friendship with Russia," Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said.

American plans to build a missile defence shield in Europe topped the agenda of US President George W Bush visit, who wrapped up his European tour in the Bulgarian capital on Monday. Bulgaria's government has expressed concerns that it may be left out of the plan, which would include facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The American president however explained that the shield would actually cover Bulgaria as well.

In his words the proposed anti-missile shield is aimed at long-range missiles, missiles that would fly over Bulgaria.

"There are anti-missile and defence systems available that would deal with intermediate range missiles. Just because Bulgaria is not a part of the longer range missiles does not mean that it won't be a part of the intermediate range shield," Bush told reporters in Sofia.

"The scheme will be developed against the rogue regimes that could take free nations hostage. It is not aimed at Russia."

Bush said he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of Eight summit in Germany last week that: "I simply do not view Russia as an enemy."

Bush expressed hope that a plan for U.S. and Russian experts to analyse each other's proposal for a missile defence shield would be beneficial. Russia has proposed that a missile defence system would include a Russian-controlled radar in Azerbaijan.

"And that's where we left it in Germany," he said. "So we're going to have a group of people come together ... to discuss how to deal with the true threats of the 21st century," Bush said.

"There's a process where we can collaborate, share information in a very transparent way which I think will be beneficial," for hopefully designing systems that "protect us all", Bush said.

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