Moscow:Russian Foreign Minister on Wednesday pressed the US to choose between a partnership with Moscow or a relationship with Georgia. Russia has slammed US President George W. Bush for his statement on the conflict between Russia and Georgia, saying it contained "facts" that are "untrue", Russian media reported.
"I listened to George Bush's statement and was surprised that the facts he cited are untrue," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
He denied the claims of the US president that Russian troops had blocked Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti.
The Russian top diplomat said Bush did not mention the arming of Georgia in recent years by some countries, including the US which also trained Georgian troops.
"No mention was made about what happened Aug 8, when Western leaders fell silent while Tskhinvali was shelled and bombed," Lavrov said, adding that there was also no mention of Russia's efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Tskhinvali and Tbilisi.
"We understand that the US is concerned about the fate of its project in Georgia, but the US will have to choose between defending its prestige over a virtual project or real partnership which requires joint action," he said.
Bush said earlier on Wednesday that he is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France and Georgia to discuss efforts to halt the conflicts between Georgia and Russia.
However, US secretary of State Condeleeza Rice made it clear that the United States will stand by the democratically elected government of Georgia. This after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Georgia's government a special project for the United States.
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