Georgia will never allow its two breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, to join the United Nations, nor will Tbilisi hold any talks with the two regions, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said on Friday.
Following a military conflict with Tbilisi over South Ossetia in early August, Moscow recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, triggering a diplomatic break between the two countries and drawing a storm of criticism from the West.
Vashadze said ties can only be restored if Russia recognizes Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and admits to a military invasion of Georgia, the Caucasus Press news agency reported.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said his decision on recognizing the two regions is "irreversible."
The conflict began when Tbilisi sent in troops to reclaim South Ossetia and Russia quickly mounted a counter-offensive to drive out the Georgian troops. The fighting ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by France.
Western nations, riled by Moscow's actions, have rushed aid to Georgia, whose leadership has been trying to bring the Caucasus nation into the European Union and NATO.
The flagship of the U.S. navy's Sixth Fleet, the USS Mount Whitney, arrived at Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Friday with humanitarian aid.
The ship will deliver more than 17 tons of relief supplies, including blankets, juices, powdered milk and hygiene products, the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi said.
The USS Mount Whitney, a sophisticated command warship based in Italy, is the third U.S. vessel transporting humanitarian aid to Georgia after its military conflict with Russia.
Source: Xinhua
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