France/Russia

Sarkozy meets Medvedev on Georgia peace mission

Article published on the 2008-09-08 Latest update 2008-09-08 16:11 TU

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy at talks outside Moscow
(Photo: Reuters/Ria Novosti)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and other EU officials held talks with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, in Russia on Monday, as part of the EU effort to persuade Russia to withdraw troops from Georgia. The French EU presidency brokered an accord to end the conflict between Georgia and Russia, which Moscow has been accused of not honouring.

During the talks Medvedev said that Russia has made efforts during the "tense" month to adhere to the peace plan.

"But there have been other important events," he said. "Russia has recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. There are certain new approaches in the way we have to move forward."

There are several thousand Russian troops remaining in Georgia, which Russia mantains is in line with the peace agreement "as additional security measures".

Georgia sees the troops as an occupying force and has accused Russia of deploying more of them.

"The Russian occupation force is reinforcing, rather than vacating, its checkpoints near the strategic commercial port of Poti," according to a Georgian government statement.

French officials indicate that Sarkozy is calling for a timetable on Russia's withdrawal from Georgia, the deployment of an EU observer mission, and talks with world leaders on the future of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The conflict between the two countries erupted one month ago, after Georgia tried to regain control of the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Sarkozy will fly on to Tbilisi later today to meet with Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili, with whom Russia has refused direct contact since the beginning of the violence.