Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has vowed to broaden Russian support for two separatist Georgian regions and warned Georgia and the West against the use of force or pressure to bring them back under central government control, the Foreign Ministry said.

Putin's pledge came in response to messages from the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia expressing concern about Georgia's drive for NATO membership, the ministry said though the ex-Soviet republic's bid was set back when the alliance decided at its summit yesterday not to put it on membership track.

Putin yesterday said Russia shares their concerns, it said. "Russia has made its view of the Georgian leadership's course for accelerated Atlantic integration known to the Georgian side and alliance members," the ministry said.

"Any attempts to apply political, economic or, all the more, military pressure on Abkhazia and South Ossetia are hopeless and counterproductive." Russia has vocally opposed US-backed efforts to expand NATO into Georgia. The Kremlin-controlled parliament last month urged the government to consider recognising the independence claims of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke from government control in early 1990s wars.

Putin stopped far short of saying Russia would recognise their independence a move that would severely damage ties with the West and could spark a war with Georgia. He gave no indication that Russia would abandon its official acceptance of Georgia's territorial integrity.

Source : PTI