Corker hits Russian attacks

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker comforts a displaced woman during his visit to a school serving as a makeshift shelter in Gori, located in the Republic of Georgia. Corker presented the woman with a humanitarian relief package. She was displaced from her home during recent hostilities between Georgia and Russia. (Submitted photo)

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, in a conference call with Tennessee reporters, said Russia has needlessly bombed civilian targets in the Republic of Georgia and said the dispute shows how important energy will be to international relations and disputes in the future.

Corker, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, returned late Sunday from Georgia, where he met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and was, according to a news release, one of the first American officials to survey damage and humanitarian operations in the town of Gori.

He discussed the trip Tuesday on a telephone conference call, saying Russian attacks on bridges and farms in Georgia went beyond military requirements and were "an effort to create economic terror in the country."

"These were not military, strategic hits," said Corker.

On Aug. 7, Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia, hoping to retake the province, which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s. Russian forces repelled the offensive and pushed into Georgia. Both sides signed a cease-fire deal in mid-August, but Russia has ignored its requirement for all forces to return to prewar positions.

Moscow insists the cease-fire accord lets it run checkpoints in security zones of up to 4 miles into Georgian territory.

Corker had high praise for the Georgian officials with whom he met during the trip, including Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze, whom he called "one of the sharpest public officials I have ever met." Corker said Gurgenidze, who was educated in the U.S., has focused on fiscal discipline in Georgia, leading to "incredible economic growth" since 2004.

"It really is stunning to see their approach to governing" and focus on free enterprise, Corker said.

Corker said it's in the interest of the U.S. and Europe to make sure the country does not move backwards economically.

"We need to be supporting all of the countries who are moving ahead democratically who used to be part of the Soviet bloc," he said.

Corker noted the presence of a pipeline running through Georgia that transfers energy from central Asia to Europe. But the concern about the impact on fuel supplies from Russia and Georgia have led to what Corker called "muted responses" from European countries to the Georgia situation.

"I think right now, we're seeing first-hand how energy is going to play out in the future," he said.

Corker did say, however, that the European Union should play a part in helping the U.S. with aid to Georgia to help it recover from the crisis. Corker said 30,000 people have been permanently displaced as a result of the conflict.

Corker said the prime minister wants the U.S. and the E.U. to invest in what he is calling the "Phoenix Fund" to rebuild infrastructure.

Senator and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden mentioned a possible $1 billion figure for U.S. aid, and Corker said the prime minister then came back with a list of the country's needs, adding up to that same amount. Corker said this reminded him of his days as Tennessee's budget director.

"When a number like that gets thrown out," said Corker, "you're going to find a way to make your line items add up to that number."

On Saturday, according to a news release, Corker toured the town of Gori which was bombed during the war and visited a school being used as a shelter where USAID and Mercy Corps workers are looking after some 98 refugees whose homes have been damaged or destroyed. Shida Kartli Governor Lado Vardzelashvili joined Corker during the tour of Gori.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has questioned the presence of NATO military vessels in the Black Sea.

"We don't understand what American ships are doing on the Georgian shores, but this is a question of taste, it's a decision by our American colleagues," he reportedly said. "The second question is why the humanitarian aid is being delivered on naval vessels armed with the newest rocket systems."

But Corker said during the conference call that it's a common practice to deliver the first wave of humanitarian aid on military vessels, since they're often first on the scene.

"That's the quickest way for our country to respond," said Corker, who challenged Russian claims that military assistance is being delivered as well.

"We can see no evidence at this point of anything coming in but [humanitarian] aid," said Corker.

"Georgia certainly is an ally of ours, and a friend," he said, adding that attempts to bring Georgia into NATO membership were no doubt an "aggravating" factor in the Georgian-Russian conflict.

"Georgia is no match for Russia ... ." said Corker. "They're not a match now, they won't be in 20 years."

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.