Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US backs Georgia, but wants more democracy: Biden
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
US backs Georgia, but wants more democracy: Biden
AFP - Friday, July 24
TBILISI (AFP) - - The United States backs Georgia's bid to join NATO but wants to see "much more" progress on democracy, Vice President Joe Biden said here Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
In an address to the parliament in the ex-Soviet republic, Biden said the administration of President Barack Obama backs Georgia's aspiration to join the Atlantic alliance, a cause of friction with Russia in recent years.
"We understand that Georgia aspires to join NATO," Biden said, adding: "We fully support that aspiration."
He also reiterated long-standing US policy on Georgia's territorial integrity, saying Washington sought a "free, secure, democratic, united Georgia."
Moscow has recognised two rebel regions of Georgia -- Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- as independent states, prompting condemnation from around the world. As Biden met President Mikheil Saakashvili and other top officials here, a senior Russian diplomat warned that Moscow would not permit Georgia to re-arm following a war last August in which much of its military was destroyed.
"We are deeply concerned about the actions of the Georgian leadership aimed at the remilitarization of the country," Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said in an interview with the state news agency ITAR-TASS.
"We will continue to prevent the re-arming of Saakashvili's regime and are taking concrete measures against this," he warned.
Biden acknowledged the United States was working on "maintaining" the Georgian military but said these efforts were limited to "planning, training, organization" -- not supply of weapons.
The US vice-president conveyed the message to Georgian officials that "there is no military solution to the conflict in Georgia," a senior US administration official said.
Biden's visit to Georgia and a trip to Ukraine earlier this week were aimed to reassure the two countries that the United States would not abandon them as President Barack Obama seeks to repair badly strained relations with Russia.
Georgia was battered in a fierce, five-day war with Russia last August, and a number of former Soviet-bloc countries have voiced nervousness that Obama's drive to improve ties with the Kremlin could leave them vulnerable.
Georgian officials said US supply of arms to Georgia was not specifically discussed but was also not beyond the realm of possibility.
"The US-Georgia strategic partnership charter envisages, among other issues, that the United States will help Georgia to further develop its defence capabilities," parliamentary speaker David Bakradze told AFP.
Biden also met with some of Saakashvili's political opponents, who say the the Georgian president carries the blame for the disastrous war with Russia and who accuse him of authoritarianism.
"We received a concrete pledge... that the development of democratic reforms in Georgia will be a major determinant in Georgian-US relations in the future," Irakli Alasania, one of the participants in the meeting, said afterwards.
Biden was strikingly critical of the state of democratic development in Georgia under Saakashvili, and made clear Washington would be watching this closely.
"As President Saakashvili told Parliament earlier this week -- and we expect that he will keep that commitment -- there is much more to be done," Biden said.
"Your Rose Revolution will only be complete when government is transparent, accountable, and fully participatory," he added, using the term coined to describe the 2003 revolt against a Kremlin-backed leadership that brought Saakashvili to power.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: World
Exiled leader plots Honduran border crossingAFP - Friday, July 24
Obama mounts defense of embattled health careAFP - Thursday, July 23
VW to take over Porsche as it takes aim at ToyotaAFP - Friday, July 24
Police raid Jackson doctor for manslaughter linkAFP - Thursday, July 23
Obama calls for broader U.S. ties with IraqReuters - Thursday, July 23
Enlarge Photo
US Vice President Joe Biden walks past a Georgian honour guard in Tbilisi. The United States "fully" supports Georgia's drive to join NATO, Biden has said.
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Police raid Jackson doctor for manslaughter link
Lost love letter reunites couple after 16 years
Massive quake moves NZealand closer to Australia
'I'm not a saint': Italy's Berlusconi
Schwarzenegger defends knife-wielding Twitter video
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Friday, 24 July 2009 US home sales rise again
US 'fully' supports Georgia's bid to join NATO
Ford posts profit on one-time items
US backs Georgia, but wants more democracy: Biden
Schwarzenegger addresses budget cuts with knife
Pa. fire chief reunited by chance with lost dog
Spy 'regretted working for Soviets'
New undersea cable gives Africa high-speed Internet
Netanyahu says he seeks peace with Palestinians
| International
|
Wildfire on outskirts of Marseille 'under control'
Congo rebel attack kills at least 24: U.N
| International
|
Clashes kill 46 in Somalia, new security boss named
| International
|
Judge rules to continue Mumbai gunman's trial
Microsoft revenue misses, shares tumble
| Technology
|
Pakistan Taliban says Swat chief alive, vows jihad
Iron Man multi-tasks at annual comic convention
| Technology
|
SKorean soldier punished for selling fake Kim photo
Cambodian PM undermining KRouge court: activists
Yachts for Kim Jong-Il? Italian shipbuilder 'defrauded'
Taco Bell ad star Gidget the Chihuahua dies at 15
China's BAIC out of Opel takeover race: GM
SKorea fines Qualcomm $208m for unfair trade
Early American portraits on display at Winterthur
Iron Man multi-tasks at annual comic convention
| Entertainment
|
Actor Dennis Franz sues over chandelier mishap
India's Bharti profits jump 24 pct, still in MTN merger talks
Review: Scares, dark laughs in `Orphan'
Jon Heder makes foray into original Web programming
| Entertainment
|
S.Korea fines Qualcomm $208 mln in anti-trust case
BRIEF-Telenor expects Pakistan mobile consolidation
Seoul shares hit new 10-mth high; earnings help =2
California Authorities Seize $1B Worth Of Marijuana From Sierra Pot Farms
Florida Radio Station Employees Find Out Health Care Plan Is Missing The Hard Way
Famed Taco Bell Chihuahua Dies From Stroke
Simon Cowell To Come Face-To-Face With 17 Ex-Girlfriends At His 50th Birthday Bash
Family Terrified Michael Jackon's Corpse Could Be Kidnapped
Jay-Z And Rihanna Rack Up $12K Bar Bill During Night Out
Weekend is now Friday-Saturday... in Algeria at least.
Millions In Asia Watch Six-Minute Total Solar Eclipse
Airman's Legs Amputated During Routine Gallbladder Surgery
iPhone Factory Worker In China Commits Suicide Over Missing Device
Amazon's lower margins spook Street, shares fall
| Technology
|
New York Times profit rises, studies Web access charge
| Technology
|
I have Amy Winehouse on my iPod, says UK's Brown
| Entertainment
|
Hezbollah arms cache violated U.N. embargo
Berlusconi's call girl accuser a liar: FM
Jolie appeals for Iraq aid on latest trip for U.N
Microsoft profit down 29 pct in weak market
French army rapped over blaze as Europe battles fires
Fiat announces bond issue, rater cautious
Netanyahu says he seeks peace with Palestinians
AP "news registry" to track online use
Japan turns to campaign gurus ahead of election
| International
|
Saddam palace suffers as Iraq seeks tourists
Researchers in new strides to fix broken hearts
Foreign Legion shooting exercise sparks French wildfire
Incumbent set for landslide win in Kyrgyzstan vote
| International
|
Early voting begins in key Kurdish elections
Mouse named Tiny may be big step forward in transplant quest
Macedonia's long wait for EU talks almost over: Rehn
CORRECTED: S.Africa's Zuma says backs police action on protests
| International
|
VW takes the wheel at Porsche
Ann Arbor News abandons print, goes online
Mexico narco junior teenagers escape jail
| International
|
Britain, France step up fight against swine flu
swoops for Xoopit email photo finding firm
Final arguments due in trial of Myanmar's Suu Kyi
| International
|
Clinton says Iran unable to respond to overtures
Iran opposition leader's brother-in-law arrested
Singer Winehouse in court over 'fan attack'
Hezbollah arms cache violated U.N. embargo: U.S
| International
|
Mousavi's wife says brother jailed in Iran crackdown
Toppled Zelaya in new bid to return to Honduras
| International
|
New US weekly jobless claims jump
Ageing Shanghai urges second baby for eligible couples
| International
|
Israeli missile-defense system hits snag
Taiwan digs up its oldest civilization
| International
|
News Corp sees MySpace as place for videogames
| Technology
|
US may rearm Georgia, despite Moscow's opposition
US mayors, rabbis in wave of corruption arrests
U.S. focuses new intelligence effort on Taliban
Microsoft raises specter of doubt on tech recovery
| Technology
|
Obama China pick vows clear-eyed approach
Amazon's Zappos buy seen clearing antitrust review
| Technology
|
Bin Laden's son may have been killed: US official
Sony to invest over $1 billion in Sharp LCD unit: report
| Technology
|
Japan opposition softens stance ahead of election
Judge accepts Mumbai gunman's confession
NKoreans risking lives for SKorean soap operas
FBI Agents Nab Top Fugitive In Wyoming
Senators praise Utah gov as China ambassador pick
China media say 4 dead, 50 missing in landslide
Obama Heading To Chicago For 2 DNC Fund-Raisers
Australia tells China it wants action on Rio
Friday Spacewalk On Tap; Robot Arm Moves Cargo To Platform
Energy Startup To Build Biggest Offshore Wind Farms In Texas
Bill Seeks $730 Billion In Funding, Mostly For Health Care Plans
Blood Pressure Meds May Slow Advance of Memory Loss
California Authorities Seize $1B Worth Of Marijuana From Sierra Pot Farms
Army: No indication Texas soldier was kidnapped
Obama Rallies For Health Care Reform At Town Hall In Ohio
Florida Radio Station Employees Find Out Health Care Plan Is Missing The Hard Way
NY Man Pleads Guilty To Helping, Receiving Training From Al-Qaeda
Top Chinese restaurant chains eye Taiwan market
News Corp plans shakeup of Star Asian TV: report
SKorean economy grows 2.3 percent in Q2
Anime films being based on "Halo" videogames
S.Korean bonds retreat after solid GDP data
Indonesia police arrest would-be suicide bomber
Bregenz Festival opens with visually stunning 'Aida'
New Moon rises at Comic-Con
| Entertainment
|
Potter prepared to fend off trio of newcomers
| Entertainment
|
EU approves Italian tax incentives to film industry
Korea Hot Stocks-Dongbu Steel tumbles on rights issue plan
Salzburg Festival, club for the super-rich feels economic pinch
Moviegoers to get sneak peek of 3D Avatar footage
| Entertainment
|
Seoul shares rise on positive Hynix earnings, GDP
S.Korea economy grows fastest in 5-½ years
Nepal to rebuild royal massacre house
Concert tour of Star Wars to kick off in October
| Entertainment
|
Pop singer Rain takes on SKorean soccer star Park
S.Korea fines Qualcomm $208 mln in antitrust case
Amy Winehouse in court on fan assault charge
US to warn China against export-led growth
Madonna's hits cause for Celebration
| Entertainment
|
A view from Comic Con: Costumes, comics, crowds
RPT-France-Pakistan nuclear deal to focus on safety
Bayreuth opening under new Wagners
'Eternal Sunshine' director to do 'Green Hornet'
Black Eyed Peas extend reign on U.S. singles chart
| Entertainment
|
Jay-Z to replace Beastie Boys in U.S. festival debut
| Entertainment
|
Kids TV programming rules, ads to be reviewed in U.S
| Entertainment
|
US probes soldier's capture in Afghanistan
Twenty-five dead in 'monstrous' Russian bus crash
Afghan president vows to regulate foreign troops
| International
|
British economy sees record contraction
Ericsson quarterly profits plunge
Global stocks rally on investor optimism
U.S. to transfer $200 million to Palestinians
| International
|
Iran cleric warns over moves to harm Khamenei
| International
|
Japan opposition hits back as LDP takes off gloves
| International
|
Swine flu has spread to almost every country: WHO
New service lets Jews tweet a prayer to God
Israel concerned over US "umbrella" on Iran
British battle for Afghan trust in restive south
| International
|
California lawmakers prepare for key budget vote
Mugabe urges end to violence, Tsvangirai seeks justice
| International
|
U.N. agency denies boss fled Gaza death threat
| International
|
Iraq's Maliki honors fallen US soldiers
Bill Gates to India: Go high end on R&D
| Technology
|
Palm re-enables iTunes sync in Pre software update
| Technology
|
US envoy to visit Syria
Obama Outlines $4 Billion School Fund Competition For States
Obama comments on professor's arrest spark controversy
Four Die In Maryland Helicopter Crash
Clinton: NKorea running out of options on nukes
Maliki hints at US troop presence beyond 2011
Senate Puts Off Healthcare Reform Bill Until After Obama's August Deadline
Federal Minimum Wage Now At $7.25
Fees for 911 service, by state
Contaminated Wash. site gets new treatment system
Drunken driver parks on Mich. police post's lawn
Samsung Electronics posts 'outstanding' Q2 results
Amy Winehouse cleared of assault
| Entertainment
|
S.Korea official says not time to chase won
New Moon rises at Comic-Con
| Entertainment
|
Hynix Semiconductor's net loss sharply narrows
Idol showrunner Warwick inks new deal
| Entertainment
|
Bodies stack up as California counts cost of funerals
Hollywood studios, networks in force at Comic-Con
| Entertainment
|
London's black cab drivers fear for their future
Sugarland's Nettles to miss 3 more concerts
Cuba's Silvio Rodriguez dedicates song to 'Che'
Austrian foundation: 2 Mozart works discovered
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST-SELLERS
Jackson estate lawyers seek allowance for children
Nas ordered to make $44K monthly payments to Kelis
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights