WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States is considering to take
further actions against Russia after the latter's invasion of Georgia, Under
Secretary of State William Burns said here Wednesday.
"We continue to review other options," Burns told the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. "It is important to reinforce for Russia the consequences
of its actions in Georgia as a means of ensuring compliance with its commitments
to President (Nicolas) Sarkozy."
The U.S. State Department announced on Sept. 8 that U.S. President George
W. Bush had decided to delay submitting a U.S.-Russia civilian nuclear
cooperation agreement to the Congress.
Georgia launched attacks against South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an attempt to
regain control of the breakaway region bordering Russia. In retaliation, Moscow
sent in troops that drove Georgian forces out of the region and took over parts
of Georgian territory.
South Ossetia, formerly an autonomous region within Georgia, declared
independence from the former Soviet republic in the early1990s. However, its
independence has not been internationally recognized.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke from central Georgian rule during wars in
the early 1990s following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, but their
self-proclaimed independence is not recognized internationally.
Earlier in the day, the White House reiterated its call for Russian
withdrawal of all its troops from Georgia. "Our position in support of Georgia's
territorial integrity is unchanged," U.S. National Security Council spokesman
Gordon Johndroe said.
In accordance with the agreement with Sarkozy, Russia has said it will pull
its troops back to the borders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Oct. 11 if
European Union observers arrive to replace them.