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Sarkozy leads EU trio to Moscow Sarkozy leads EU trio to Moscow
(about 1 hour later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Moscow for talks with the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about the crisis in Georgia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been holding talks in Moscow with the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about the crisis in Georgia.
He is joined by the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and the European Commission head, Jose Manuel Barroso.He is joined by the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and the European Commission head, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Mr Sarkozy is expected to discuss his peace plan, although Russia has hinted it may not meet all his demands. Mr Sarkozy was pressing Russia to meet the terms of the ceasefire agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgia.
Meanwhile, Georgia has gone to the UN's highest court over what it claims are Russian human rights abuses. Russia says the deal allows it to keep peacekeepers in several buffer zones around two breakaway Georgian regions.
Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague are being asked to impose emergency measures to halt what Georgia says is a campaign of ethnic cleansing by Russia in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Ahead of the talks, Mr Sarkozy said the EU was "united" in its position, adding that "we will defend our convictions forcefully".
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Mr Medvedev said "all necessary efforts" had been undertaken to "conform strictly with the Medvedev/Sarkozy plan".
'Georgian beasts''Georgian beasts'
Russian troops remain in South Ossetia and in a self-declared buffer zone within Georgia after responding with force to Georgian attempts to recapture the separatist region last month. Russian troops, including tanks and heavy artillery remain in South Ossetia and a self-declared buffer zone within Georgia after responding with force to Georgian attempts to recapture the separatist region last month.
As part of the peace deal brokered then, President Sarkozy wants Russian troops to pull back from Georgia.
PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsRussian peacekeepers may take unspecified "additional security measures" until "an international body" arriveInternational talks about security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia Q&A: Conflict in GeorgiaPotential flashpointsPEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsRussian peacekeepers may take unspecified "additional security measures" until "an international body" arriveInternational talks about security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia Q&A: Conflict in GeorgiaPotential flashpoints
But Russian troops are dug in with tanks and heavy artillery inside Georgia and show little sign of heeding European demands to withdraw, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports. They show little sign of heeding European demands to withdraw, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from South Ossetia.
Just ahead of Mr Sarkozy's visit, Russia appeared to reject a EU proposal to place its own observers in the region.
The foreign ministry said it would cause the "superfluous fragmentation" of the monitoring already provided by the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
As Mr Sarkozy arrived in Moscow, reports from Georgia said Russian troops had turned back a UN convoy.As Mr Sarkozy arrived in Moscow, reports from Georgia said Russian troops had turned back a UN convoy.
Mr Sarkozy's delegation is also expected to press the Russians on arrangements for a strengthened international effort to monitor developments on the ground. Our correspondent says that every single Georgian village on the road south from the Russian border now lies in ruins.
But hopes for EU observers to be deployed in the region appeared to be rejected by Russia on Monday.
Hours before Mr Sarkozy's visit, the foreign ministry said it would cause the "superfluous fragmentation" of the international monitoring already provided by the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Our correspondent, reporting from South Ossetia, says that every single Georgian village on the road south from the Russian border now lies in ruins.
Homes, shops and schools have been looted and in one village Georgian homes have even been bulldozed.Homes, shops and schools have been looted and in one village Georgian homes have even been bulldozed.
"The Georgians are beasts," one Ossetian woman said. "God forbid they ever come back"."The Georgians are beasts," one Ossetian woman said. "God forbid they ever come back".
Energy suppliesEnergy supplies
Russia says it is honouring the terms of a six-point plan agreed to end the conflict.
Georgia wants the UN court to impose measures on Russia
However, European nations do not agree.
Some European leaders have already warned there can be "no business as usual" with Russia until the peace plan is fully implemented, and the European Union has suspended talks on a new partnership agreement with Moscow.Some European leaders have already warned there can be "no business as usual" with Russia until the peace plan is fully implemented, and the European Union has suspended talks on a new partnership agreement with Moscow.
However, with winter approaching, individual European countries continue to consume Russian oil and gas as usual.However, with winter approaching, individual European countries continue to consume Russian oil and gas as usual.
Georgia wants the UN court to impose measures on Russia
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, and its continuing failure to implement the truce agreement to the letter, will have profound consequences for Russian relations with the EU.BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, and its continuing failure to implement the truce agreement to the letter, will have profound consequences for Russian relations with the EU.
It will also make it difficult for President Sarkozy to achieve his goals in Moscow, he says.It will also make it difficult for President Sarkozy to achieve his goals in Moscow, he says.
The French president will travel on to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to meet President Mikhail Saakashvili, following his talks in Russia.The French president will travel on to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to meet President Mikhail Saakashvili, following his talks in Russia.
JurisdictionJurisdiction
During three days of hearings at the ICJ, judges will hear accusations from Georgia that Russian forces have been conducting a campaign of murder, forced displacement and denial of humanitarian assistance against Georgians in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Meanwhile, Georgia has gone to the UN's highest court over what it claims are Russian human rights abuses.
Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague are being asked to impose emergency measures to halt what Georgia says is a campaign of ethnic cleansing by Russia in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
If the court decides it has jurisdiction to hear the case, it can issue an interim protection order to help safeguard civilians. A final outcome on the case could take years.If the court decides it has jurisdiction to hear the case, it can issue an interim protection order to help safeguard civilians. A final outcome on the case could take years.
Russia has not responded directly to Georgian claims, but when Georgia began its military action in South Ossetia last month, Moscow accused it of committing crimes against humanity.Russia has not responded directly to Georgian claims, but when Georgia began its military action in South Ossetia last month, Moscow accused it of committing crimes against humanity.
Russian investigators recently released a list of 311 names of South Ossetians killed during the five-day war with Georgia. Initially, Russian and South Ossetian authorities had estimated at least 1,400 fatalities. Russian investigators have released a list of 311 names of South Ossetians killed during the five-day war with Georgia. Initially, Russian and South Ossetian authorities had estimated at least 1,400 fatalities.
The Russian-language list given on the website www.osetinfo.ru details their names, ages and causes of death. The authors note that the list is not final.The Russian-language list given on the website www.osetinfo.ru details their names, ages and causes of death. The authors note that the list is not final.