Georgia/Russia

Rice arrives in Tbilisi

Article published on the 2008-08-14 Latest update 2008-08-15 10:05 TU

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
(Credit: Reuters)

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in the Georgian capital Tbilisi in a show of support for its pro-western government. After meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday, she is taking documents aiming at consolidating the truce in the Russia-Georgia conflict. Sarkozy said that if Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili signs them, the Russian troop withdrawal will begin.

Sarkozy had negotiated the six-point peace plan as the president of the European Union.

Rice is scheduled to meet with Saakashvili on Friday in an effort to show US support for Georgia. Part of the US support has included emergency aid to conflict-torn Georgia, as a second cargo plane arrived in Tbilisi on Thursday.

Meanwhile, UN officials were carjacked in Gori while they were assessing the crisis situation. The Russian military later said that the vehicles had been recovered.

US President George Bush reassured leaders of Ukraine and Lithuania that he is fully committed to "a sovereign, free Georgia and its territorial integrity," according to White House spokesperson Dana Perino.

On Wednesday Bush scolded Moscow, saying that their aggression against Georgia had put relations with Western powers "at risk."

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday that the second military exercise to be held with Russia later this month has been cancelled.