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Russia agrees to peace settlement

MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday agreed to a France-brokered peace settlement of the Caucasus crisis that could spell an end to Georgia’s sovereignty over its breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

After several hours of talks, the Presidents of Russia and France, Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the European Union presidency, agreed on principles for ending the crisis that was triggered by Georgia’s massive offensive to reassert control over South Ossetia.

Before Mr. Sarkozy arrived, Mr. Medvedev ordered an end to the military operation in South Ossetia, as the Russian forces had achieved their objective of punishing Georgia and securing the safety of the population in the region. “The aggressor has been punished and has suffered considerable losses; his armed forces have been disorganised,” he said on television.

The principles agreed upon by Russia and France include non-use of force, immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of the Georgian and Russian forces to pre-conflict positions, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, continued presence of Russian peacekeepers in the region until a broader international peacekeeping force is formed, and international talks on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

On the absence of any reference to Georgia’s territorial integrity in the peace plan, Mr. Medvedev said the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would depend on whether the people there agreed to live in one state with Georgia.

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