Russia's parliament unanimously called on President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions that sparked Russia's first foreign military incursion since the Soviet era.

Medvedev, who has final say on the matter, has said Russia supports the regions' aspirations, though he has stopped short of formally recognizing them. U.S. President George W. Bush, who has insisted they remain part of Georgia, is dispatching Vice President Dick Cheney next week to visit the country as part of a trip to the region.

The regions, which broke away from Georgia in wars in the early 1990s, have cited Kosovo's Feb. 17 declaration of independence from Serbia as a precedent. Russia opposed Kosovo's independence, arguing that it violated Serbian sovereignty. This could come back to haunt Moscow if Medvedev endorses Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's right to self-determination.

The U.S. views recognition of the two regions as ``unacceptable.''

``Russia needs to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,'' State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters in Washington today. ``That is worked into a number of international agreements, so again, we would characterize that as unacceptable.''

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