US pledges 1 billion dollars in aid for Georgia

Sep 3, 2008, 18:37 GMT

Washington - The United States will provide 1 billion dollars in humanitarian aid to Georgia following the Russian invasion of the former Soviet Republic, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday.

'Georgia's needs are great, especially its economic needs,' Rice said. 'The free world cannot allow the destiny of a small independent country to be determined by the aggression of a larger neighbour.'

The aid will help support ongoing humanitarian relief efforts and reconstruction and buoy the economy. It is not military assistance, Rice said.

Three US warships have arrived in Georgia since the conflict erupted last month to deliver humanitarian supplies. The US Air Force and Navy have been flying aid into the country.

Rice reiterated US calls for Russia to comply with an August 11 ceasefire agreement brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and to withdraw its troops back into the disputed Georgian breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

'It's high time that Russia meet its obligations to the ceasefire,' Rice said.

South Ossetia was the source of the conflict that began August 6 when the Georgia government sent in troop to quell attacks by separatists militias. Russia responded with a large military attack deep into Georgia and fighting quickly spread to Abkhazia.

The Russian assault has brought relations with the West to the lowest point since the end of the Cold War, and the United States and European Union have said the Kremlin will face consequences.

'Frankly, Russia's done itself in on this,' Rice said.

The European Union has hinted at possible sanctions against Russia, and the White House has said it is weighing whether to pull a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Moscow from congressional consideration.