Medvedev: Russia to Pull Forces from Georgian Buffer Zone
By VOA News
08 September 2008
Russia has agreed to pull its troops from what it called a buffer zone around the Georgian breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced the agreement in a joint new conference outside Moscow Monday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Mr. Medvedev said the withdrawal will begin as soon as international peacekeepers are in place.
The two leaders said all Russian forces will move within one month, and that 200 European monitors will be in the region October 1. Mr. Sarkozy also said Russian checkpoints around the Black Sea city of Poti will be lifted by next week, and that international talks on security in South Ossetia will begin October 15 in Geneva.
Russia insists its troops in and near the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are functioning as peacekeepers who are complying with a cease-fire.
Georgia accuses Moscow of violating the cease-fire by deploying additional troops to key checkpoints in Georgian territory.
Mr. Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating European Union presidency, drew up last month's cease-fire agreement between Georgia and Russia. He travels to Tbilisi later today for talks with Georgian leaders.
Russian forces pushed into Georgia last month after the Georgian military tried to retake control of South Ossetia. Russia has since recognized the independence of both territories, drawing widespread international condemnation. Nicaragua is the only other country besides Russia to recognize the regions.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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