Clinton reassures 'occupied' nation

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a firm message of support to Georgia yesterday, seeking to ease the former Soviet country's fears that its interests were being sacrificed in the name of America "resetting" relations with Russia.

Repeatedly using the term "occupation" to describe the presence of Russian troops in Georgia's breakaway regions, Clinton said the Obama Administration flatly rejects Russian claims to have a privileged sphere of influence in countries on its borders.

"I came to Georgia with a clear message from President Obama and myself: the United States is steadfast in its commitment to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," she said. Thousands of Russian troops have been stationed in Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia since the 2008 Russian-Georgian war.

Clinton said this was in contravention of the ceasefire that ended the five-day war, and called on Russia to abide by its commitments, "including ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions".

The Georgian authorities consistently use the word "occupation" to describe Russia's presence in the region, and Clinton's use of the term is being seen as a victory in Tbilisi. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin responded: "Some believe that it has been occupied, but others think that it has been liberated."

Clinton's visit is intended to reassure Tbilisi that it is not being abandoned.

- Independent