Bush expressed support for Georgia, Rice goes to Tbilisi

US President George W. Bush expressed support for Georgia and announced that he was sending US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France and then to Tbilisi and entrusting the humanitarian mission to Pentagon chief Robert Gates, RIA Novosti reports. “Given our...

US President George W. Bush expressed his support for Georgia and announced that he was sending US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France and then to Tbilisi and entrusting a humanitarian mission to Pentagon chief Robert Gates, RIA Novosti reports .

“Given our concern, I have given instructions to take serious measures to show solidarity with the Georgian people and achieve a peaceful solution to this conflict. I am sending Condoleezza Rice to France where she will meet with (French President) Sarkozy and then to Tbilisi where she will personally convey US support to Georgia's democratic government,” Bush said.

A special statement by the President of the United States on the situation in the conflict zone was broadcast live on CNN.

"I also instructed Secretary of Defense Gates to launch a humanitarian mission to the people of Georgia," Bush said.

The head of the White House said that the United States will use military aviation and navy to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.
Bush issued a statement on the situation in Georgia after he had a telephone conversation with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Details of the conversation are not reported.