clipped from: www.reuters.com BAKU (Reuters) - U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney said on Wednesday the United States had a "deep and abiding interest" in its allies' security in the Caucasus, while Russia said U.S. support for Georgia was stirring up instability.
The United States later announced $1 billion in aid for rebuilding Georgia after last month's five-day war with Russia, a move likely to further strain ties with Moscow.
On a visit to Azerbaijan, Cheney also said the United States must work with the oil-producing ex-Soviet republic to create additional energy export routes to Western markets.