Bush to make statement on Georgia 11:00 EST

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush spoke to Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday and will make remarks on the conflict between Georgia and Russia at 11:00 am (1500 GMT), the White House said.

Bush -- who spent the morning in the "Situation Room," his high-tech national security nerve center in the mansion's basement -- was to make his remarks in the Rose Garden outside his Oval Office.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice scrapped a planned morning press conference to deliver Washington's formal diplomatic answer to the bitter conflict and was expected to be at the president's side.

"The president will make a statement on Georgia later today," said spokeswoman Dana Perino, who declined to give details from Bush's talks with Saakashvili. An aide later said the remarks would be at 11:00 am.



Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2OCn6dtD45FwYq2mK1vTqRqe1fA

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just a heads up

Bush: Russia May Be Violating Georgian Cease-Fire

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Bush said Wednesday he is skeptical that Moscow is honoring a cease-fire in neighboring Georgia, demanding that Russia end all military activities in the former Soviet republic and withdraw all its forces.

"The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush said sternly during brief remarks in the White House Rose Garden.


"To demonstrate our solidarity with the Georgian people," the president announced that he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris to assist the West's diplomatic efforts on the crisis, and then to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.


He also announced that a massive U.S. humanitarian effort was already in progress, and would involve U.S. aircraft as well as naval forces. A U.S. C-17 military cargo plane loaded with supplies is already on the way, and Bush said that Russia must ensure that "all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, roads and airports," remain open to let deliveries and civilians through.


"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis," Bush said.


more:http://wcbstv.com/national/georgia.russia.conflict.2.794009.html