Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb. 5 / Trend N. Kirtzkhalia /
U.S. is Georgia's partner and this situation will continue and Washington rigorously supports Georgia's territorial integrity, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told journalists today.
He was commenting on U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's statement made at the Munich Security Conference.
Biden said that the U.S does not agree with Moscow on all issues citing as an example, the Georgian occupied territories.
He added that the U.S will not recognise Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia as independent countries and does not intend to in the future.
"The U.S. has always been our strategic partner," he added. "It did a lot for the development of democratic institutions in Georgia. We will do our best to appreciate it and express our gratitude over what they are doing and continue doing to help Georgia. Georgia is trying to improve relations with Russia. We must return our territories and will not give up the country's territorial integrity."
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia in Georgia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia late in August. Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow in response and has announced the two unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be occupied territories.