The US sees Russia's presence in Georgia and Moldova and its suspension of Cold War era arm control agreements as major concerns.

"Russia's suspension of its implementation (of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, CFE) and its military presence in Moldova and Georgia are major concerns," US Under Secretary of State William Burns was quoted by AFP as saying on Thursday.

The remarks were made during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which was held in Helsinki.

Russia stationed its forces in Georgia on August 8 after an attack by Georgian troops on South Ossetia to retake the control of the breakaway region.

Moscow later withdrew its forces and deployed them to South Ossetia and Abkhazia amid Georgia's protest.

"The host country's consent to the stationing of forces is a core principle of the CFE treaty," Burns said.

He also urged Russia to allow European observers into the two breakaway Georgian regions to monitor the ceasefire there.

SB/RA