In These New Times

“It’s quite normal that Russia wants to defend its interests, as well as the interests of Russians both in and outside Russia.“

CIA or no, pragmatism rules now and Sarkozy shows himself alert to the shifting balance of global power.

Russia Today

13th August, 2008

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy have drawn up a peace plan for settling the conflict in South Ossetia. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has accepted the plan.

That’s according to French president Nikolas Sarkozy who’s been mediating the agreement. Sarkozy announced this at a joint news conference with Saakashvili in Tbilisi. 

According to the plan, both Georgian and Russian troops will retreat to their previous positions before the violence began. 

Both sides also agree to the non use of force. 

Sarkozy said the European Union would act as a guarantor in the process of regulating the conflict. 

Peace plan devised

Sarkozy had been in Moscow earlier and hammered out the deal with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. It called for the sides to sign up to the following principles:

1) Non-use of force.

2) Stop all military action.

3) Free access to humanitarian aid.

4) Georgian troops return to their previous positions before the conflict.

5) Russian troops return to the lines they held before the start of the military operation. Before an international solution is worked out Russian peacekeepers are taking up an additional security role.

6) The start of an international discussion over the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

To watch the press conference of the Russian and French presidents please follow the link.

The French President showed his understanding of Russia’s position. He added that France and Europe sought peace, and all the efforts now are aimed at achieving it.

“It’s quite normal that Russia wants to defend its interests, as well as the interests of Russians both in and outside Russia. It is also normal that we, the international community, want to guarantee the integrity, sovereignty and independence of Georgia. France has delivered a document to you and, I hope, we will be working on that basis,”he said.

Shortly after the attacks began last week, the country urged all sides to show restraint and avoid any escalation, as well as a resumption of direct dialogue between them.

France also proposed a ceasefire plan, which was rejected by Russia. Moscow insisted that before the ceasefire could take place, Georgia must withdraw its troops from the conflict area.

The two Presidents have also had several phone conversations in the past few days on the situation in South Ossetia and Georgia.

Reports say Georgian troops continue fire

There are reports from South Ossetia of continued small arms fire. Russian peacekeepers say Georgian troops are firing on their positions in the capital Tskhinvali. 

A curfew in the capital of South Ossetia came into force on Tuesday.

The news comes as Moscow announced the end of military operations in the republic. Russia has urged Tbilisi to re-deploy its military outside South Ossetia and sign an agreement not to use force. 

Authorities in South Ossetia say about two thousand people have died in the fighting. Their capital Tskhinvali lies in ruins. Russian emergency services say they are caring for 600 wounded in the area.

Work is now being carried-out to provide humanitarian aid to those who are still there, as well as to restore electricity, gas and water supplies to the city.

“I was here in 1992, memories are resurging. I have a very heavy impression from what I saw of the destruction there, of the people suffering. I hope this will never be repeated. We are going to discuss with the government of South Ossetia what help is needed in the first place. We’ll take care of the necessary infrastructure – gas, water, electricity, hospitals – here we have everything needed for that,” Russia’s Emergency Minister Sergey Shoigu – now in the region – said.

The Russian Government has promised some $US 40 million to help re-build the city.

It is estimated that more than 30,000 Ossetians have fled the fighting to cross the border to Russia. Funerals are being held in North Ossetia.

August 13 day of mourning in Russia

At least 1,600 people are believed to have been killed during five days of violence.

President Medvedev has issued a decree declaring August 13 a day of mourning in Russia for the humanitarian disaster in South Ossetia.

Flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the country.