Making Tbilisi the last stop in a tour to reassure Russia’s neighbors that President Barack Obama’s “reset” with the Kremlin will not harm them, Clinton stressed Washington’s anger at Russia’s “invasion and occupation” of Georgian territory.

“I came to Georgia with a clear message from President Obama and myself: The United States is steadfast in its commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Clinton said at a briefing with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

But she warned Georgia against provoking Moscow and urged Saakashvili to do more to bolster democracy, suggesting the best way to coax the separatist provinces back into the fold would be through powerful political and economic improvements.

“The United States will do everything we can to assist our partners, inside and outside the Georgian government, as they strive to strengthen democratic institutions and processes,” Clinton said. She said the countries “share a deep friendship.” A staunch US ally, American-educated Saakashvili said initial concerns had been dispelled and that Georgia was convinced the reset was being done “the right way... not just changing relations with Russia at the expense of others.”

Echoing Washington’s argument for embracing Russia more warmly than during the previous US administration, when ties were badly frayed, Saakashvili expressed confidence the “reset” would ultimately “lead to a more modern, more open Russia.” “That’s only good for all of us around it,” Saakashvili said.

In a five-day war in August 2008, Russia crushed a Georgian assault on the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, launched after days of clashes between Georgian and rebel forces and years of tension between Moscow and Tbilisi.

Russia strengthened its control over South Ossetia and a second breakaway region, Abkhazia, after the war, and has signed deals with the regions — which it calls independent nations — to build permanent military bases.

“We consider such construction to be in contradiction to Russia’s 2008 cease-fire commitments,” Clinton said, citing the EU-brokered peace deal that committed Russia and Georgia to withdraw their forces to pre-conflict positions.

But asked how and when the issue might be resolved, Clinton gave no concrete blueprint or timeline, suggesting that all Georgia can do is build itself up as a democratic, economically thriving nation and avoid antagonizing Moscow.

“Whether it’s in months or years, it’s important for Georgia to continue its modernization reform efforts,” Clinton said.

“That sends a very strong message... that this occupation has not undermined the Georgian government and the Georgian people’s commitment to their own internal efforts to build the strongest possible state.” Obama’s high-profile “reset” of relations with Russia has caused concerns among some of Moscow neighbors that Washington has subordinated their interests to improve ties with Moscow.

In Georgia after visits to Ukraine, Poland, Armenia and Azerbaijan — all ex-Soviet republics or satellites, Clinton sought to reassure Georgia of US support despite the rapprochement with Moscow.