President Bush today faced fresh questions about US plans to build an Europe-based missile defence system from Bulgarian leaders.
The final portion of Mr Bush's European trip was a two-day stay in the Baltics - eight hours in Albania yesterday followed by a day of events in Bulgaria's capital.
Bulgaria, situated to the east of Albania on the Black Sea, is a strong ally where Mr Bush is more popular than in many other parts of the world.
But Bulgaria's leaders have concerns about US plans for a new rocket shield. For one thing, the defence system isn't intended to cover southeastern parts of Europe like Bulgaria.
Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said his government hopes to change this. "Our wish is not to find ourselves in a zone of unequal security," Mr Kalfin said.
Another worry comes from the tensions the proposed shield has created between the United States and Russia. Moscow fiercely opposes the plan, saying that placing it in the Czech Republic and Poland means the shield is aimed at Russia.
After moving through the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Italy on an eight-day trip, Mr Bush is to return to the White House this evening.
AP