Posted on 08/14/2008 12:16:13 AM PDT by Schnucki
Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, has threatened Russia with international isolation unless it keeps to a peace deal with Georgia brokered by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President.
As she was despatched for Tblisi by George W Bush, in a strong show of US support for Georgia, Ms Rice said Russian troops' violations of the truce since the agreement was reached have "only served to deepen the isolation into which Russia is moving", as Moscow confirmed its troops remain in the state.
There is a "very strong, growing sense that Russia is not behaving like the kind of international partner that it has said that it wants to be," said Ms Rice, who will meet Mr Sarkozy before holding talks with Mikheil Saakashvili, the Georgian President. "We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia."
However there are signs that Russia is beginning to fulfill its commitments. Georgia’s Interior Ministry said Russian troops had begun pulling out of the town of Gori, although Moscow has warned that the hand-over could take two days. A forces have also left Poti, the Black Sea port with an oil terminal seen as key to Georgia’s economic stability.
Ms Rice's comments came as US aid began to arrive in the former Soviet state in a further show of support. A military aircraft, packed with medical supplies, shelters and bedding, arrived in Tblisi along with promises that more will follow.
The Pentagon has said it will be "reviewing the needs" of the Georgian military, battered after the five-day conflict with Russia over the rebel region of South Ossetia.
But Russia earlier warned that America, which has a staunch ally of Tbilisi's pro-western government, would have "to choose" between building a relationship with Georgia or Russia.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
... Yeah ...
Yes, review those needs closely.
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