SEVILLE -- Germany urged NATO on Friday to decide soon which Eastern European countries could join the alliance, but met a cautious response from other countries who said the highly sensitive issue needed more time.


German Defense Minister Volker R--he told a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Seville that Poland, Hungary, the Czech republic and Slovakia should be first and that it should be made clear Russia and Ukraine would not be able to join.


The debate on how and when to admit former foes as new members is sensitive since Russia is deeply suspicious of plans to expand the alliance's borders into Eastern Europe and many allies are worried that it could strain NATO cohesion.


U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry told the meeting that NATO should concentrate for now on developing the Partnership for Peace scheme offering closer military ties to all former Warsaw Pact members, including Russia.


Perry made clear he disagreed with the German view.


"We're at a very early stage. We have certainly not specified who or when and we're not likely to in the near future ... it's entirely premature at this point to specify which countries are joining or not joining," he told reporters.


"It is essential that the evolutionary process of NATO expansion be accompanied by extensive cooperation with those partners who do not have a prospect of joining NATO. I am referring primarily to Russia and Ukraine," Ruhe said.


Russia, Europe's biggest power, says it opposes any quick alliance expansion to the east. Russia withdrew its last troops from the area this year.