Azernews.Az

Anne Derse, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has voiced her country`s full support to Georgia, which has faced a military stand-off with Russia in the past weeks.
"The United States stands solidly with Georgia, and we fully support Georgia`s territorial integrity and sovereignty," she said in a statement.
Derse said the visit of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi last week "underscores the strength of that support." In addition, President George Bush has announced a massive American relief and reconstruction effort that is being led by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The ambassador said Washington applauds Azerbaijan`s support for Georgia and hopes that other countries will similarly come forward to support Georgia in the wake of the Russian incursion.
On August 8, Russia sent troops to Georgia`s breakaway republic of South Ossetia and struck at Georgian positions after Tbilisi launched an offensive to retake the self-proclaimed pro-Russian region. The hostilities were brought to a halt following five days of deadly fighting.
Derse criticized Moscow for its military intervention in the South Caucasus republic.
"Russia`s response in Georgia was not the response of a well-intentioned peacekeeper. Russia`s provocations seem clearly to have been aimed at redrawing the map of Georgia. The repair of key Russian military infrastructures, as well as the rapid and disproportionate Russian use of force, suggests that this incursion was a premeditated act. Georgia is an independent and sovereign nation and Russia must respect its democratic neighbor."
Derse called on Russia to fully comply with the terms of the ceasefire agreement that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to during negotiations held by EU head and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Further, the statement said that Russia`s actions have threatened countries other than Georgia.
"They threaten the democratic aspirations of the region. Sovereign nations like Azerbaijan and Georgia will chart their own course, which they have determined will include links to Europe and the West. Russia must respect such decisions, made by democratically elected leaders," it said.