U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
August 8, 2008

Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Russia Move into Georgia

The United States calls for an immediate ceasefire to the armed conflict in Georgia’s region of South Ossetia.  We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and missiles, respect Georgia’s territorial integrity, and withdraw its ground combat forces from Georgian soil.

Senior U.S. officials and I have spoken with the parties and continue to work with them to seek an end to hostilities.  The United States is working actively with its European partners to launch international mediation.  We urgently seek Russia’s support of these efforts. 

We underscore the international community’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as articulated in numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions, including most recently UNSCR 1808 in April 2008.