The US president has strongly supported Georgia ahead of international talks in Geneva about the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions.

"We firmly support Georgia's democracy and sovereignty and territorial integrity," George W. Bush said after meeting with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi in the White House on Monday.

"The United States and the EU agree that the territory of Georgia includes the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Reuters quoted Bush as saying.

In early August, Georgian military forces invaded the breakaway region of South Ossetia, as a result of which Russia moved its forces to the region where most of the population has Russian citizenship.

The conflict, however, ended after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a French-brokered ceasefire deal with Georgia, although the agreement did not address the long-term status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

After the conflict, Russia has recognized the separatist provinces as independent and has vowed to protect them, while Georgia insists Russia must withdraw its forces from the two regions.

The US president also said that Russia must show respect for the sovereignty and territory of its neighbors.

"Russia must accept the responsibilities and obligations of international leadership," said Bush.

On Wednesday, International talks on the future of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will begin at the UN's European headquarters in Geneva.

The talks - organized by the European Union, United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - aim to promote stability and security in the region.

AGB/MMA