U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Italy early next month, the White House said Monday.
"President Bush has asked the vice president to travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Italy to discuss issues of mutual interest with these key partners," the White House said in a statement.
Cheney will begin his visit on Sept. 2, the statement said.
He will be the highest U.S. official to visit the region since the conflict began between Russia and Georgia, a strong U.S. ally.
The move is a clear gesture of solidarity with Georgia, which has been in conflict with Russia in recent weeks over the South Ossetia issue.
The United States has accused Russia of not honoring its ceasefire deal with Georgia and repeatedly urged it to end the crisis and respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Source:Xinhua
|