Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Russia proposed expanding a security alliance with China and four former Soviet republics to counter NATO as the European Union considered sanctions on Russia for its recognition of two separatist Georgian regions.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become an ``authoritative organization that commands respect.'' The group will consider adding new members, he said today at a summit in the Tajik capital Dushanbe.

``Expanding the group would realize Russia's goal of turning the SCO into an anti-American, anti-NATO counterweight,'' said Yevgeny Volk, an analyst in Moscow for the Washington-based Heritage Foundation research group. ``It comes as a result of Western criticism of Russia for its military action in Georgia and for recognizing'' Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Medvedev traveled to Dushanbe in search of support from China and Central Asian allies as Russia's relations with the West continued to sour. The European Union will consider sanctions against Russia for recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia at a meeting next week. Russia's relationship remains strained with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has sent warships to the Black Sea, home of Russia's southern fleet, to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.

EU Sanctions

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner of France, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said some of the bloc's leaders ``will propose sanctions, others will be against'' when they meet on Sept. 1 to discuss the situation in Georgia. In a subsequent statement, Kouchner said France hasn't called for sanctions against Russia and will seek to forge a common EU position on the issue.

While Europe discusses sanctions, Russia's Asian allies offered support for Russia's actions in Georgia, where it fought Georgian troops for five days over South Ossetia. They stopped short of giving diplomatic recognition to the regions.

In addition to Russia and China, the seven-year-old organization includes Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, while India, Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia have ``observer'' status.

U.S. Response

The U.S. views the fact the Shanghai group and other countries haven't recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as evidence of international disapproval of Russia's actions, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

``I would just say that it wasn't what I would call an endorsement of Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,'' Wood told reporters in Washington today. ``The fact that you haven't seen countries come forth and recognize these two parts of Georgia's territory is a significant sign.''

The U.S. is conferring with its European allies to determine their next steps, Wood said. ``Be assured that we're not going to sit by and allow this to continue without there being consequences.''

In a declaration passed today, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization welcomed the EU-brokered cease-fire that ended the fighting and offered support for ``Russia's active role in helping to create peace and cooperation in this region.''

Belarus Recognition

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, a staunch ally of Russia, said he viewed Russia's actions in Georgia with ``understanding.'' Russia ``either had to just walk past or stop the bloodshed of that long-suffering people,'' he said.

``I'm satisfied that I told my colleagues about this, and received in response this sort of support for our efforts,'' Medvedev said.

Belarus may become the second country to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as early as today, Interfax reported, citing the Belarusian ambassador to Russia, Vasily Dolgolev.

While Russia is so far alone in recognizing Abkhaz and South Ossetian statehood, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia won't try to compel its allies to follow suit. ``Unlike some of our major foreign partners, we prefer that each country think for itself,'' he said in Dushanbe.

The fact that China hasn't come out in support of Russia's position ``doesn't mean that China is isolating Russia,'' government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday.

Chinese `Concern'

The Russian leader said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will consider adding new members. While the group's goals include ``joint provision and support of peace, security and stability'' in the region, according to its Web site, it's not a military alliance like NATO. Medvedev said the Shanghai group doesn't serve as a counterweight to NATO.

China, which has restive ethnic populations in its western regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, and claims sovereignty over Taiwan, has been wary of inserting itself into the international dispute over Russia's actions in Georgia.

Qin Gang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the government ``expresses concern over the latest developments in the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.''

``We hope relevant countries can properly resolve the issues through dialogue,'' he said.

China has long espoused a formal policy of non-intervention in other countries' internal affairs, a policy it invokes in defending its actions in Tibet, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

Secessionism

``So far China's reaction to this dispute has been very soft, because we're also very aware of the secessionism in Xinjiang, Tibet, and the Central Asian countries also have the same worries,'' said Zhu Feng, a security expert at Peking University's School of International Studies. He said China is basically supportive of Moscow, but won't make a separate statement on the issue.

The Shanghai organization in recent months has condemned an attempt by Taiwan to seek greater international recognition and unrest in Tibet.

A Taiwanese referendum in March that called for the country to join the United Nations under the name ``Taiwan'' posed a ``threat to stability in the region,'' the organization said. It called protests in Tibet last spring ``illegal actions'' and said it considers Tibet ``an inalienable part'' of China, according to statements on the organization's Web site.

To contact the reporters on this story: Lyubov Pronina in Dushanbe via the Moscow newsroom at lpronina@bloomberg.net; Dune Lawrence in Beijing at dlawrence6@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 28, 2008 12:59 EDT