Russia lashes out as U.S. ship arrives in Georgia

[Otto 83]

(CNN) -- A U.S. Coast Guard ship carrying humanitarian aid docked in the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi Wednesday,

as Georgia's Western allies renewed their criticism of Russia amid escalating tensions.

The cutter Dallas bypassed its original destination, the Georgian port of Poti, which is controlled by Russian

troops still in the country despite a cease-fire deal to end conflict between the two countries.

The arrival of the Dallas cames as Western leaders renewed criticism of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's

move Tuesday to recognize the independence of two Georgian breakaway provinces, Abkhazia and South Ossetia --

over which Georgia and Russia have been fighting.

The move, which controvened a French-brokered cease-fire deal to end the conflict, was condemned as illegal

by European leaders.

The 26 countires of NATO -- which Georgia is seeking to join -- greed on a joint statement urging Moscow to

reconsider its decision, AP reported.

Russia has, in turn, criticized the U.S. program to deliver $20 million of aid to Georgia. One general labeled the

move "devilish," according to The Associated Press.

"The heightened activity of NATO ships in the Black Sea perplexes us," AP quoted Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn

as saying in Moscow. Watch how aid ship has upset Russians »

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday said Russia's decision to recognize South Ossetia and

Georgia as independent broke international law.

"We cannot accept these violations of international law, of accords for security and cooperation in Europe, of

United Nations resolutions, and the taking ... of a territory by the army of a neighboring country," Kouchner said, according to AP.

British Foreign Minister David Miliband, in Ukraine to rally support for "the widest possible coaltion against Russian

aggression" also renewed his criticism of Russia's latest diplomatic offensive.

"It takes no account of the views of the hundreds of thousands of Georgians and others who have been forced

to abandon their homes in the two territories," he said, according to the UK's Press Association.

The German government said Chancellor Angela Merkel has pressed Medvedev to fulfill the terms of a European-brokered

cease-fire in Georgia and condemned Moscow's recognition of independence, AP reported.

Russia's declaration raised the stakes in the stand-off between Moscow and the West which began after Georgian

troops attacked pro-Russian separatists in South Ossetia on August 7, triggering a Russian invasion of Georgia.

Russian tanks, troops and armored vehicles poured into South Ossetia and Abkhazia the following day, advancing

into Georgian cities.

On Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush issued a strongly worded statement, saying: "The United States condemns

the decision by the Russian president to recognize as independent states the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia."

Bush said Russia's move was "inconsistent" with the French-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended the fighting

and called on Russia to "reconsider this irresponsible decision."

Bush added: "The territorial integrity and borders of Georgia must be respected, just as those of Russia or any

other country. Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations."

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the decision was in "direct violation of numerous U.N. Security Council

resolutions regarding Georgia's territorial integrity."

The European Union also urged a political solution to the tensions in Georgia.

Speaking to CNN's Matthew Chance, Medvedev said the move was in line with international law.

"It is internationally recognized that if a people based on all these [u.N.] provisions express their will to have an

independent existence... any other state in the world has the right to recognize this independence whether you

like it or not," the Russian president said. Watch Medvedev defend recognizing the breakaway regions »

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called Russia an "aggressor state." Watch Saakashvili's reaction »

"My appeal to the free world is to condemn and reject Russia's dangerous and irrational decision -- not only

for Georgia's sake -- but for the sake of preserving the fundamental basis of international law and order.

The stand-off has exacerbated already frayed relations between Russia and the West.

Moscow has been infuriated by U.S. plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern Europe. It said an

agreement signed last week to base missiles in Poland would open that country up to an attack in the event of conflict.

Western nations have expressed support for Georgia, which aspires to NATO and European Union membership,

with the U.S. dispatching a major humanitarian aid mission.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia during civil wars in the 1990s. Russia strengthened ties

with them after the U.S. and much of Europe recognized the independence of the Serbian province of Kosovo

earlier this year, a move that Moscow had warned against.

The Bush administration has insisted that both Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain part of Georgia, a U.S. ally

that is seeking NATO membership, and says resolving the disputes between the Georgian government and the

regions "should be a matter of peaceful negotiations and discussions among the parties."