21:52, 10 September 2008

Solana: EU observers shall be placed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

The European Union believes that in spite of the statements of the head of Russian MFA Sergey Lavrov EU observers shall be deployed in the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

This is the topic of the statement made by Javier Solana, EU Supreme Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security.

The European Commissioner remarks that the EU mission in Georgia "should be deployed outgoing from the considerations that it should be deployed everywhere," the RIA "Novosti" reports.

Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov has confirmed today in the press conference in Moscow that only Russian peacekeepers will stay in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

According to his version, as quoted by the RBK, the mandate of the UN and EU observers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia henceforth shall be coordinated with the leaders of these republics. Also, the mandate should be adapted to the new conditions.

As to representatives of other international organizations, for example, the European Union, "they will be deployed around South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and not in their territories," said the head of the Russian foreign office.