CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush appealed to Russia's president Monday to ignore the advice of lawmakers and refrain from recognizing Georgia's breakaway regions as independent.

The move came as the White House announced Vice President Dick Cheney would visit Georgia, a blast of support for an ally still reeling from its brief war with Russia.

Bush's intervention reflected the deep stakes for Georgia, which is a former Soviet republic, and the broader U.S.-Russia relationship, as the fate of separatist Abkhazia and South Ossetia remained in flux.

Both houses of the Russian parliament voted unanimously to urge Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the two regions as independent. Medvedev did not immediately respond but has said Moscow would support the choice of the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"I call on Russia's leadership to meet its commitments and not recognize these separatist regions," Bush said in a statement from Texas, where he is vacationing at his ranch.

"Georgia's territorial integrity and borders must command the same respect as every other nation's, including Russia's," the president said.

Bush said independence for the two regions would undercut the international attempt to resolve Georgia's border disputes, a United Nations effort that Russia has supported.

Western countries warned Moscow that recognizing the breakaway regions of Georgia, an allied nation pressing for NATO membership, would prompt international denunciation.

But Medvedev signaled the criticism was of little concern to the Kremlin.

NATO needs Russia more than Russia needs NATO, Medvedev said, and it would be "nothing frightening" if the Western alliance were to sever all ties. NATO has suspended operations of the NATO-Russia Council over the Georgia crisis.

Cheney is heading abroad on Sept. 2 for stops in three former Soviet Republics — Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine — plus Italy.

"The vice president will be delivering the word of America's support," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Indeed, Cheney's presence in the war zone is a clear sign to Russia of the U.S. resolve behind Georgia after the small country was pummeled by a Russian military response. The vice president is the top-ranking U.S. official to visit Georgia since war erupted on Aug. 7.

Even before those hostilities began, Cheney's trip to Italy, Georgia and Azerbaijan was in the works.

The vice president has no plans to visit Russia and speak directly with leaders there.

"That sends the message to the Kremlin that it risks international isolation," said Andrew Kuchins, a Russia specialist at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington. "Mr. Cheney is widely viewed by the Russian political elite as the toughest hawk on Russia in the Bush administration."

Cheney's trip is the latest in a flurry of activity in defense of Georgia, including an earlier trip by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The White House also announced Monday that the U.S. is sending an interagency delegation to Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, to assess the country's vast reconstruction needs.

Catching much of the world off guard, war erupted as Georgia launched an artillery barrage targeting the separatist province of South Ossetia. Russian forces repelled the offensive and responded with tremendous force, attacking deep into Georgia.

Yet questions remain about what actions, if any, the U.S. will take against Russia.

The Pentagon has ruled out a military response. Cheney's office has used tough rhetoric, saying "Russian aggression must not go unanswered."

"It hasn't gone unanswered. In fact, I'd say it's been loudly answered," Fratto said Monday.

"I don't think there's any question that Russia's reputation has suffered since it took these disproportionate military steps in Georgia," Fratto added.

As for specific consequences, the White House is reviewing its "entire relationship" with Russia, Fratto said, but focusing now on how to support Georgia's recovery.

Cheney will hold talks in Georgia with President Mikhail Saakashvili, and will meet with the respective presidents of the other countries he is visiting.

Russia pulled the bulk of its troops and tanks out of Georgia on Friday under a cease-fire brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but built up its forces in and around South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It also left military posts inside Georgia proper.

"There's no question that Russia hasn't lived up to the cease-fire agreement," Fratto said, a point Russia disputes. The White House says the presence of large numbers of Russian troops and checkpoints are signs that Russia remains in violation.




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