On April 4, 2009, the NATO heads of state released a joint statement after the Strasbourg-Kehl summit, pledging to maximise their advice, assistance and support for Georgia's and Ukraine's reform efforts.

But the receding Soviet threat, as well as the politics of German reunification, prompted the NATO heads of state to outline the new approach on Friday.

And Mr. Bush will make his case personally at a meeting of NATO heads of state in mid-June.

Last week Mr. Bush and the other NATO heads of state met in Rome to chart a new role in a Europe without the Soviet threat that had defined the alliance's reason for existence.

In November 1991, the NATO heads of state and government adopted the "New Strategic Concept" at the NATO Summit in Rome.

In November 2002, NATO heads of state are to meet in Prague and decide whether nine more nations, including the three Baltic states, once Soviet republics, will join, a step Moscow also opposes.

This was only the second meeting of the NATO heads of state following the ceremonial signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949.

The accord with Russia will be signed by President Vladimir V. Putin and the 19 NATO heads of government outside Rome on May 28.

Administration officials want to make sure that a two-day summit gathering of NATO heads of state and government in Brussels next week passes smoothly.

Still, Lord Robertson defended his efforts to force a decision and acknowledged that he had written a letter to NATO heads of state warning them that the credibility of the alliance was at risk.