The Russians need to honor their commitment. They made a commitment to withdraw; the withdrawal needs to take place, and needs to take place now, reported PNA.
Gordon Johndroe, White House press speaker, referring US president George Bush at the daily briefing.
Johndroe said the U.S president had a telephone conversation with president Saakashvili. According to the White House press speaker the conversation was initiated by Georgian president, who constantly calls Bush reporting latest information to the US president.
Johndroe made comment about NATO-Russia relation, as he pointed out, for all practical purposes, military-to-military cooperation had really already been suspended with the Russians. "We -- NATO cancelled some exercises. And I can't imagine a circumstance right now that we would engage in military cooperation with the Russians until the situation in Georgia is resolved", the White House press speaker
"We are hopeful for the day that we will be able to resume military cooperation with the Russians, hopeful for the day that we're able to resume what I would call normal cooperation with the Russians. Right now the Russians are making some decisions that are not in line with a commitment to become a part of a Europe, whole, free and at peace", Johndroe said.
According to the press speaker, effects are that there won't be any exercises for the time being. "I can't imagine a circumstance that, until the situation in Georgia is resolved, that we would engage in exercises with them", he added.
"If the goal of the Russians was simply to protect Russian peacekeepers, then we do not understand why, and therefore, think it disproportionate, that they moved out of South Ossetia, out of Abkhazia, and into what is considered undisputed Georgian territory", Johndroe stated.