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Cheney arrives in Georgia as U.S. reiterates support

September 4, 2008

TIBLISI, Georgia (CNN) — U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Georgia Thursday for talks with President Mikhail Saakashvili, on the second day of a tour of three former Soviet republics.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev, right, and U.S. Vice President Dick CheneyHis visit to Tbilisi follows the announcement Wednesday by the United States of a $1 billion aid package for Georgia to help with humanitarian aid and reconstruction after last month’s conflict with Russia.

Cheney’s visit to Georgia, the second leg of his trip, will be a short one. He plans to move on to Kiev, Ukraine in the evening.

The vice president spent Wednesday in Azerbaijan, where he met with representatives of energy companies BP and Chevron and held talks with President Ilham Aliyev that focused on Georgia and energy issues.

Azerbaijan, which borders Georgia and Iran and sits on the Caspian Sea, is an oil- and gas-rich nation and a key U.S. ally in the region. Cheney said the United States has a deep interest in maintaining the country’s stability and security. 

“The United States strongly believes that, together with the nations of Europe, including Turkey, we must work with Azerbaijan and other countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia on additional routes for energy exports that ensure the free flow of resources,” Cheney said after his meeting with Aliyev.

“Energy security is essential to us all, and the matter is becoming increasingly urgent.”

Cheney is the highest-level U.S. official to visit Georgia since the conflict with Russia began, and that crisis is likely to top his agenda in Tbilisi.

In announcing the Georgia aid package, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice emphasized the money is intended for humanitarian aid and reconstruction — not to rebuild the Georgian armed forces the Russians rolled over in early August. Russian leaders have raised questions about U.S. intentions about providing Georgia with arms.

“This is a reconstruction package for the Georgian economy,” Rice said in Washington. “It is not yet time to look at the question of assistance on the military side.”

Rice said the biggest share of the aid, $570 million, is to be sent over the next five months. The remaining $430 million will be up to the next administration.

After Georgia and Ukraine, Cheney plans to end his trip in Italy to meet leaders there and discuss the transatlantic alliance.

Written by Hisham · Filed Under EUROPE 

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