NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS, Ireland - President Bush, in the first of two summits over five days, sought solidarity on Iraq with allies who opposed the war, hoping to give a strong vote of confidence today to the fledgling government in Baghdad.

Bush and leaders of the 25-nation European Union gathered to close ranks with a pledge to reduce Iraq's massive foreign debt, estimated at $120 billion.

Bush planned to urge that the EU offer membership to Turkey, a key U.S. ally in the war against terror.

On the economic side, the United States and the EU signed an agreement Saturday to make the EU's planned satellite navigation system compatible with the existing U.S. Global Positioning System.

Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, EU Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell signed the agreement. They said the deal would improve the systems and lower prices for consumers.

Powell said the pact "will open up major opportunities for scientific research and creative engineering."

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Dublin on Friday to protest Bush's summit with the EU chiefs. The crowd of about 10,000 waved placards and banners denouncing Bush as a warmonger and urging that facilities for American military flights be withdrawn from Shannon Airport, a strategic refueling point used by thousands of U.S. troops each month.

About 4,000 police officers and 2,000 soldiers - more than one-third of the security forces in the Irish Republic - were deployed to protect Bush. Weekend protests were expected in several European cities.

Bush teased reporters during a photo opportunity with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

From Ireland, Bush heads to Turkey where he will join leaders of the 26-nation NATO alliance at summit talks Monday and Tuesday focused on Iraq. Administration officials expressed confidence that NATO would accept a bigger role in Iraq, offering to train security forces and provide equipment.

The United States had once hoped NATO would send peacekeeping troops to Iraq, but that idea died under fierce opposition from France and Germany.

While last year's war caused major divisions, the United States and its European allies appear intent on joining together to help Iraq's interim government, which takes power Wednesday from the American-led occupation.