Condoleeza Rice unveils $1-billion Georgian aid package

Mumbai: US secretary of state Condoleez Rice has called on the Nato allies to stand up to ''bullying'' by Russia, inviting criticism by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev for her unusually blunt remarks.

''I believe that the secretary of state should be more careful and should show greater calm and responsibility for her judgment in calling for the West to unite against Russia," Gorbachev said through an interpreter at a press conference in Philadephia.(View video)

Rice's remarks came as tensions between Washington and Moscow escalated.

She said the United States has put forward a $1 billion economic support package for Georgia and along with its European allies will continue to lead efforts to help Georgia rebuild, US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice said in Washington on Thursday.

''Russia's invasion of Georgia has achieved – and will achieve – no strategic objective. Russia's leaders will not accomplish their primary war aim of removing Georgia's government. And our strategic goal now is to make it clear to Russia's leaders that their choices are putting Russia on a one-way path to self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance,'' she said.

We and our European allies are therefore acting as one in supporting Georgia, she said while commending President Sarkozy for his leadership on this front.

''The transatlantic alliance is united. Just this week, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer led all 26 of our alliance's ambassadors on a mission to Tbilisi to demonstrate our unwavering support for our Georgian friends. The door to a Euro-Atlantic future remains wide open to Georgia, and our alliance will continue to work through the new NATO-Georgia Commission to make that future a reality,'' she said.

We and our European allies will also continue to lead the international effort to help Georgia rebuild – an effort that has already made remarkable headway. The United States has put forward a $1 billion economic support package for Georgia. The EU has pledged 500 million Euros. And it is preparing to deploy a large mission of civilian observers and monitors to Georgia.

In addition, with US and European support, G-7 foreign ministers have condemned Russia's actions and pledged to support Georgia's reconstruction. The Asian Development Bank has committed to a $40 million loan to Georgia.

The IMF has approved a $750 million stand-by credit facility. And the OSCE is making plans for expanded observers, though Moscow is still blocking this.

Conversely, Russia has found little support for its actions: A pat on the back from Daniel Ortega and Hamas is hardly a diplomatic triumph.

At the same time, the United States and Europe are continuing to support – unequivocally – the independence and territorial integrity of Russia's neighbours. We will resist any Russian attempt to consign sovereign nations and free peoples to some archaic ''sphere of influence.''

Anachronistic Russian displays of military power will not turn back the tide of history. Russia is free to determine its relationships with sovereign counties. And they are free to determine their relationships with Russia – including in the
Western hemisphere.

Our world today is full of historic opportunities for progress, as well as challenges to it – from terrorism and proliferation, to climate change and rising commodity prices. The United States has an interest in building partnerships to resolve these and other challenges. And so does Russia.

The United States and Russia share an interest in fighting terrorism and violent extremism.

We and Russia share an interest in denuclearising the Korean peninsula and stopping Iran's rulers from acquiring the world's deadliest weapons.

We and Russia share an interest in a secure Middle East where there is peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

And, we and Russia share an interest in preventing the Security Council from reverting to the gridlocked institution it was during the Cold War.