Bush blasts Russia's stance on Georgia

CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush Tuesday condemned Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's recognition of two Georgian regions as independent states.

Russia has supported the independence claims of Georgian breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"This decision is inconsistent with numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions that Russia has voted for in the past and is also inconsistent with the French-brokered six-point cease-fire agreement which President Medvedev signed on Aug. 12, 2008," Bush said in a statement issued from his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

The cease-fire offered a peaceful resolution to the Georgia-Russia conflict that began earlier this month when Georgian forces tried to rein in rebels in breakaway province South Ossetia and later were overwhelmed by Russian forces. South Ossetia and Abkhazia have long-standing ties to Russia.

"We expect Russia to live up to its international commitments, reconsider this irresponsible decision, and follow the approach set out in the six-point agreement," Bush said.

Russia must respect the territorial integrity and borders of Georgia, just as Moscow expects its territorial integrity and borders be honored, he said.

In accordance with U.N. resolutions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia "and they must remain so," Bush said.