EU secures deal on Russia withdrawal

[Hope And Change]

Moscow refuses to bow to pressure when it comes to its decision to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhasia as independent states. (Photo: Presidential Press and Information Office)

EU secures deal on Russia withdrawal

RENATA GOLDIROVA AND ELITSA VUCHEVA

Today @ 09:28 CET

Following four-hour talks between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French leader Nicolas Sarkozy, Moscow has agreed to pull out its troops "from the zones adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia to the line preceding the start of hostilities" by mid-October.

"This withdrawal will be implemented within 10 days of the deployment of international mechanisms in these zones, including no fewer than 200 observers from the European Union, which must take place no later than 1 October 2008," Mr Medvedev said on Monday (8 September).

He promised to dismantle a security checkpoint near the Black Sea port of Poti deep in Georgian territory within seven days - stressing, however, that all depends on Georgia's commitment not to regain control over its two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by force.

Under the deal, the new EU monitors will become guarantors of Georgian non-aggression. OSCE and UN monitors will also be allowed to return to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but it remains unclear how many Russian soldiers will stay in the two rebel enclaves for now.

Tbillisi, for its part, welcomed the EU-brokered deal, with President Mikheil Saakashvili describing it on Monday (8 September) as a "step forward."


http://euobserver.com/9/26708">Read the entire article here

[curious one]

1. I would like to see it. They say it but do they do it?