The U.S. president, George W. Bush talked by telephone with the prime minister of Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende, on the conflict between Russia and Georgia, said the spokesman of the day 2 United States National Security Council, Gordon Johndroe.
The two leaders discussed the importance of supporting the territorial integrity and reconstruction of Georgia, said Johndroe.
Bush thanked Balkenende for the firm stance adopted by the European Union on the continuation of the Russian military presence in Georgia, said the spokesman.
He also talked about Afghanistan, where the Netherlands has about 300 soldiers fighting the Taliban. It was reported that the Dutch government decided to reinforce its military presence in Afghanistan by sending another 1,600 troops to the country.
Before talking on the phone with Balkenende, Bush spoke by telephone on Sunday with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on the conflict between Russia and Georgia.
In early August, Georgia sent troops to reclaim South Ossetia, a separatist region, which triggered a counter-Russian military. The conflict ended with a cease-fire agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow reached with the mediation of France.
But tensions between the two countries worsened since last Tuesday Russia recognized the self-proclaimed independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another Georgian separatist region. (Xinhua)
