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Cheney opens ex-Soviet state tour Cheney opens ex-Soviet state tour
(about 3 hours later)
US Vice-President Dick Cheney is in Azerbaijan at the start of a tour of the region aimed at supporting US allies in the former Soviet Union.US Vice-President Dick Cheney is in Azerbaijan at the start of a tour of the region aimed at supporting US allies in the former Soviet Union.
Mr Cheney will also visit Ukraine and then Georgia, a month after fighting erupted between Russia and Georgia in the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Mr Cheney will visit Ukraine and Georgia, a month after fighting erupted between Russia and Georgia.
A BBC correspondent says the US sees the states as key allies in protecting access to the region's energy supplies.
The trip is likely to infuriate Moscow, which sees those three states as part of its sphere of influence.The trip is likely to infuriate Moscow, which sees those three states as part of its sphere of influence.
However, the US views them as key allies in Russia's backyard.
In Georgia, Mr Cheney will stress American support for President Mikhail Saakashvili - the man the Kremlin dismissed on Tuesday as a "political corpse", adding that it did not recognise his leadership.In Georgia, Mr Cheney will stress American support for President Mikhail Saakashvili - the man the Kremlin dismissed on Tuesday as a "political corpse", adding that it did not recognise his leadership.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has also accused the US of helping Tbilisi build its war machine and called on America to review its relations with the Georgian authorities.Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has also accused the US of helping Tbilisi build its war machine and called on America to review its relations with the Georgian authorities.
"Unfortunately, at a certain point they [the US] gave Saakashvili carte blanche for any actions, including military. All that was translated into aggression," Mr Medvedev told Italian television."Unfortunately, at a certain point they [the US] gave Saakashvili carte blanche for any actions, including military. All that was translated into aggression," Mr Medvedev told Italian television.
Oil interestsOil interests
The Bush administration is expected to announce on Wednesday a $1bn (£563m) package of aid to help rebuild Georgia, an administration official told Reuters news agency.The Bush administration is expected to announce on Wednesday a $1bn (£563m) package of aid to help rebuild Georgia, an administration official told Reuters news agency.
America's interest in the region has a lot to do with energy - and the Caspian oil which flows west down a pipeline from Azerbaijan, through Georgia and Turkey. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Moscow, says America's primary concern is not nurturing democracy in the region but rather oil and gas.
America fears instability in the region could threaten the pipeline and give Moscow even more influence over energy supplies to the West, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow. Washington wants to benefit from huge energy deposits in the Caspian Sea, but it doesn't want all the pipelines heading west through Russia.
One western-sponsored pipeline is already pumping Caspian oil from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
There are plans for another pipeline to take natural gas from Azerbaijan and Central Asia and transporting it from Turkey to Austria.
Our correspondent says that, as far as the US and the EU are concerned, the new pipeline is vital if the West is to avoid becoming too energy dependent on Moscow.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force.Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force.
Russian forces launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Russian forces launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia has since recognised the independence of both regions, though no other country has.Russia has since recognised the independence of both regions, though no other country has.