On Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush issued a strongly worded statement, saying: "The United States condemns the decision by the Russian president to recognize as independent states the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia."Bush said Russia's move was "inconsistent" with the French-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended the fighting and called on Russia to "reconsider this irresponsible decision."
Russia lashes out as U.S. ship arrives in Georgia
A U.S. Coast Guard ship carrying humanitarian aid docked in the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi Wednesday, as Georgia's Western allies renewed their criticism of Russia amid escalating tensions.
The cutter Dallas bypassed its original destination, the Georgian port of Poti, which is controlled by Russian troops still in the country despite a cease-fire deal to end conflict between the two countries.
In another development Wednesday, Georgia has recalled some of its diplomatic staff from its Moscow embassy, Russia's foreign ministry said.
The arrival of the Dallas cames as Western leaders renewed criticism of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's move Tuesday to recognize the independence of two Georgian breakaway provinces, Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- over which Georgia and Russia have been fighting.
The move, which controvened a French-brokered cease-fire deal to end the conflict, was condemned as illegal by European leaders.
The 26 countires of NATO -- which Georgia is seeking to join -- agreed on a joint statement urging Moscow to reconsider its decision, AP reported.
Russia has, in turn, criticized the U.S. program to deliver $20 million of aid to Georgia. One general labeled the move "devilish," according to The Associated Press.
"The heightened activity of NATO ships in the Black Sea perplexes us," AP quoted Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn as saying in Moscow. Video Watch how aid ship has upset Russians »
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday said Russia's decision to recognize South Ossetia and Georgia as independent broke international law.
"We cannot accept these violations of international law, of accords for security and cooperation in Europe, of United Nations resolutions, and the taking ... of a territory by the army of a neighboring country," Kouchner said, according to AP.
British Foreign Minister David Miliband, in Ukraine to rally support for "the widest possible coaltion against Russian aggression" also renewed his criticism of Russia's latest diplomatic offensive.
"It takes no account of the views of the hundreds of thousands of Georgians and others who have been forced to abandon their homes in the two territories," he said, according to the UK's Press Association.
The German government said Chancellor Angela Merkel has pressed Medvedev to fulfill the terms of a European-brokered cease-fire in Georgia and condemned Moscow's recognition of independence, AP reported.
Russia's declaration raised the stakes in the stand-off between Moscow and the West which began after Georgian troops attacked pro-Russian separatists in South Ossetia on August 7, triggering a Russian invasion of Georgia. Russian tanks, troops and armored vehicles poured into South Ossetia and Abkhazia the following day, advancing into Georgian cities.
