The European Union welcomes Georgia's new policy on South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the EU foreign affairs chief said on Wednesday.

Georgia's new strategy for the return of the two tiny republics stresses the need for "peaceful and diplomatic methods" and was approved by the government on January 28.

Catherine Ashton also welcomed Tbilisi's intention to engage in talks with the two republics, which split away from Georgia during in the early 1990s and were both recognized by Russia in 2008.

Russia's recognition followed an attack by Georgian forces on South Ossetia.

BRUSSELS, March 10 (RIA Novosti)