"I am deeply concerned by the actions Russia has taken to establish legal links with the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the NATO chief said in a statement.

"I urge the Russian Federation to reverse these measures, and call on the Georgian authorities to continue to show restraint," he added.

At their summit in Bucharest earlier this month, NATO Allies "reiterated their support for the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Georgia," said Scheffer.

"The Russian steps undermine that sovereignty," he added.

Russia on Wednesday announced closer links with the two separatist regions in neighbouring Georgia, prompting an emergency meeting of top officials in Tbilisi.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to intensify cooperation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and recognise businesses and organisations registered in the two territories.

Abkhaz and South Ossetian officials said the moves were a significant step towards recognising the independence of their regions, which Georgia's government has vowed to bring back under central control.

Russia has redoubled support for the separatists in its pro-Western neighbour in response to Western recognition of Kosovo as an independent nation.

If all goes smoothly, Georgia and Ukraine could be headed for NATO membership by the time the Alliance marks its 60th anniversary next year.

Despite 11th-hour American arm-twisting, European leaders in Bucharest on April 2-4 -- wary of alienating an increasingly assertive Russia -- denied coveted pre-membership status to Georgia and Ukraine at the Bucharest summit, at least for the time being.

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