South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia and “there’s no room for debate on this matter,” U.S. President George W. Bush said on August 16.

"A major issue is Russia's contention that the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia may not be a part of Georgia's future. But these regions are a part of Georgia, and the international community has repeatedly made clear that they will remain so," he said.

He said that a ceasefire agreement signed by Russia and Georgia was “a hopeful step” and added that Russia now needed to honor that agreement and withdrew troops.

Bush made the statement after meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his Crawford, Texas, ranch. Rice flew to Crawford to brief Bush on her trip to Tbilisi on August 15.