FRANCE: Germany calls for an international peace initiative for the withdrawal of Russian troops
Record ID:
783175
FRANCE: Germany calls for an international peace initiative for the withdrawal of Russian troops
- Title: FRANCE: Germany calls for an international peace initiative for the withdrawal of Russian troops
- Date: 6th September 2008
- Summary: (BN10) PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 5, 2008) (REUTERS) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER BERNARD KOUCHNER AT STATION PLATFORM HOLDING SMALL SCALE OF FRENCH TGV HIGH SPEED TRAIN CLOSE TRAIN MODEL KOUCHNER AND OTHER PEOPLE GETTING INSIDE TRAIN HIGH SPEED TRAIN LEAVING STATION BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID MILIBAND SEATED DURING TRAIN JOURNEY TO AVIGNON
- Embargoed: 21st September 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: International Relations,European Union
- Reuters ID: LVA7INKYSC54TXZLSB647BGE9X0D
- Story Text: Germany, Italy and several other European states called on Friday (September 5) for an inquiry into who was to blame for last month's South Ossetia conflict, saying the outcome could shape the West's future ties with Russia and Georgia.
European Union foreign ministers boarded one of France's high speed trains in Paris on Friday (September 5) and travelled to the southern town of Avignon for talks aimed at launching a civilian monitoring mission in Georgia to get several hundred personnel on the ground as soon as possible.
Georgia's leaders say they sent their forces into South Ossetia -- a region recognised by nearly all foreign countries as Georgian territory -- in response to what they called repeated armed provocations by Russia and its separatist allies.
France brokered a deal to end the war last month, but Moscow has kept troops in "security zones" on Georgian territory beyond South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another rebel region.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will travel to Moscow on Monday (September 8) to discuss with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev whether Russia is ready to stick to the French-brokered peace plan which the West says does not allow for buffer zones.
Speaking before start of the EU foreign ministers meeting, Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Moscow and Tbilisi to accept an inquiry into the outbreak of hostilities.
"It is all about insisting that the six-point plan which was agreed upon by Medvedev and Sarkozy is followed and realised. That is also the goal of this visit. And it is especially important that the Russian troops which are in Georgia outside of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will withdraw through an international peace initiative," he said.
The European Union and the United States have so far held back from tough sanctions against Russia after it sent troops and tanks to crush Georgia's bid to recapture the rebel region, while condemning Moscow's reaction as disproportionate.
British Foreign Minister David Miliband said Moscow should recognise Georgia's territorial integrity.
"think that President Sarkozy has an important job in Moscow on Monday to deliver a very clear and united and firm message from the European Union, all 27 countries. And determined to see Russia live up to the agreements it has made in respect to the six points plan. And also to pass on the universal European condemnation of the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he said.
The European Union's Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana discussed the possible replacing of Russian troops if they pulled out of Georgia.
"I think that the pull out of the Russian troops from Georgia properly is the objective. And if something is needed to be there in place of them we would be ready to do it," he said.
For Finland's Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, the situation can only be resolved by a high level international mediator to bring the different parties together.
"My argument is that we need one high representative with international recognition and he or she would be working with the UN, the EU, and the OSCE, the Americans and the Russians. But it needs to be someone of high statute, who is respected, who basically knows his stuff. That is the best way I think to stabilise the situation right now," he said.
Russia's presence in Georgia and its decision to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have stretched ties with the West close to breaking, and underlined the limited leverage of the EU and United States in the stand-off.
EU leaders warned the Kremlin this week that the bloc would postpone talks due this month on a new EU-Russia partnership pact, but avoided tougher sanctions amid internal divisions on how to deal with Europe's largest energy supplier. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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