TBILISI, GEORGIA — Appearing alongside beleaguered Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday criticized Russia's conduct in its short war with Georgia and pledged to continue American support for reconstruction and humanitarian aid.
Cheney's visit to Tbilisi was the highlight of a quick swing through the Western-friendly nations of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine, all former Soviet republics. The trip apparently was designed to shore up the morale of national leaders rattled by Russia's rout of U.S.-trained Georgian forces.
"Russia's actions have cast grave doubt on Russia's intentions and on its reliability as an international partner, not just in Georgia, but across this region and indeed throughout the international system," Cheney said. "America will do its duty to work with the governments of Georgia and our other friends and allies to protect our common interests and uphold our values."
Cheney's remarks probably will further inflame Moscow, where officials have railed against the United States' alliances with the former Soviet states. This week, President Dmitry Medvedev said bluntly that Moscow expected to maintain a "privileged" sphere of influence in the region of the former Soviet Union.
However, U.S. officials Thursday brushed off criticism that the White House is deliberately approaching the brink of confrontation with Russia.
"The United States is not trying to paint Russia as an enemy," said Robert A. Wood, a State Department spokesman. "We're very concerned about its behavior and what that means for the future of the U.S.-Russia relationship. We're looking at all aspects of our relationship with Russia, in terms of how we go forward."
Russian officials also have been dismayed by the apparent staying power of Saakashvili, often referred to in Moscow as a "war criminal" for launching the military operation in early August in the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia responded by sending in troops to defend the pro-Russian enclave, which broke with Georgia's government more than a decade ago. The fighting ended with Russia continuing to occupy parts of Georgia proper to enforce the separation from South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that the world should impose an arms embargo on Georgia until Saakashvili is out of power.
