Washington: US President George W. Bush has accused Russia of violating the UN Charter in its recent conflict with Georgia and said Washington would continue to support Tbilisi.

"The UN Charter sets forth the equal rights of nations large and small. Russia's invasion of Georgia was a violation of those words. Young democracies around the world are watching to see how we handle this test," Bush said Tuesday in his farewell speech to the UN General Assembly.

He said Washington would work with its NATO allies and with the European Union to defend Georgia's territorial integrity.

Russia came under strong criticism from Western powers over its five-day conflict with Georgia last month, which followed Georgia's Aug 8 attack on breakaway South Ossetia. Russia subsequently recognised South Ossetia, along with Abkhazia, as independent states.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy also singled out Russia for criticism in his speech to the assembly, saying Moscow "cannot compromise on the principle of states' sovereignty and independence, their territorial integrity".

The General Assembly opened its 63rd session Tuesday with focus on the deteriorating crisis in the global financial markets.

 

Source : IANS