U.S. President George W. Bush expressed solidarity with Georgia on Wednesday, and called on Russia to adhere to a ceasefire between the two countries. “The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected,” Bush said at a Rose Garden press briefing. “Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal. The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment,” he added. Bush said the United States supported French-led efforts to secure an agreement between Russia and Georgia, which have been locked in violent confrontation since last week. Both sides declared a ceasefire on Tuesday, but Bush said today that Russia appeared to be violating the agreement. “We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia, and we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country,” Bush said. The president also announced that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would head to France, to meet with President Sarkozy and then travel onto the Georgian capital Tbilisi. “She will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's democratic government. On this trip, she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia,” Bush said. The president added that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was also be enlisted to show U.S. support to Georgia in the form of a “humanitarian mission to the people of Georgia headed by the United States military.” “This mission will be vigorous and ongoing,” Bush said. “A U.S. C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies is on its way. And in the days ahead, we will use U.S. aircraft, as well as naval forces, to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies.”
