Brdo, Slovenia - The European Union and the United States pressed Russia to back off its push for influence in former Soviet republics, calling on Moscow to respect Georgia's sovereignty, according to a draft statement at an EU-US summit Tuesday. US President George W Bush and top EU officials "commended" efforts by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to draw closer to the West, said the draft obtained by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
"We reiterate our commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, and call on all parties, in particular on Russia, to support these principles," the document said.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Bush were due to present the summit statement later Tuesday after the talks at a castle in Slovenia, the country chairing the EU for six months until June 30.
