International Caucasus security talks to resume in Geneva

MOSCOW, November 18 (RIA Novosti) - The second round of international talks on security in the Caucasus following the August conflict will begin in Geneva on Tuesday, involving both of Georgia's separatist provinces.

The first round of negotiations began on October 15, but was suspended after Georgia refused to attend meetings involving Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which were recognized by Russia as independent states after the conflict.

The negotiations will also involve Russia and the U.S., and will be co-chaired by representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

South Ossetian envoy to Russia Dmitry Medoyev told RIA Novosti: "We anticipate constructive dialogue from all interested parties. We expect that our European colleagues will give an objective assessment of the August events, and condemn Georgia's war against South Ossetia."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier said the discussions in Geneva should be "focused on ensuring security" in the region. He called for Russia and the EU to work together to regulate the conflict.

"Our position is clear: If we want to consider means of ensuring security under the new conditions in this region, and if we want to discuss issues that need to be resolved in order to create the conditions for the return of refugees and displaced persons, the sides must leave to one side the status issue and all procedural games," he said.

Russia handed control of buffer zones adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia over to EU and OSCE monitoring missions in Georgia on October 8. The measures are part of international efforts to stabilize the region following Georgia's invasion of South Ossetia in August, which triggered the five-day conflict with Russia.

South Ossetia's authorities said on Monday there had been a resumption in shooting on South Ossetian territory, as well as the abductions of local residents.

The EU mission is tasked with ensuring security along the border with Georgia's disputed republics. Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia have refused to allow EU observers on their territory.

The Russian and French presidents, Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy, agreed in September that Russia's full withdrawal from undisputed parts of Georgia must take place by October 10. EU monitoring teams were deployed in Georgia on October 1 in preparation for the handover.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s amid armed conflicts that claimed thousands of lives.