OREANDA-NEWS. September 10, 2008. The head of state recalled that on 8 September at a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy they had developed additional measures to the 12 August plan aimed at resolving the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict. These additions relate in particular to the withdrawal of Russian troops from the security zones and the deployment of international observers. The President of Russia expressed his view that there should be many more OSCE and EU observers in Georgia.

Dmitry Medvedev stressed that, in relation to the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and pending the conclusion of treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, at the request of Abkhazia and South Ossetia the Russian Armed Forces would play a leading role in maintaining peace in the territory of these republics.

The Defence Minister told the President that the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia had agreed on the number (about 3 800 troops in each republic) and the composition of troops as well as the locations of their deployment. In South Ossetia troops will be deployed in the cities of Tskhinval and Java and, in Abkhazia, troops will be temporarily deployed where Russian peacekeepers were previously stationed.