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| Georgia, Russia hold direct talks | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Georgian and Russian officials have begun their first direct talks since the conflict over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia in August. | |
| The talks in Geneva - which are be mediated by the UN, the EU and the OSCE - are aimed at encouraging stability and security in the Caucasus. | |
| But they are unlikely to provide a solution to the dispute, diplomats say. | But they are unlikely to provide a solution to the dispute, diplomats say. |
| In August, Russia fought a brief war to repel Georgian troops trying to regain control of South Ossetia. | In August, Russia fought a brief war to repel Georgian troops trying to regain control of South Ossetia. |
| Moscow later recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgia's rebel region - as independent states, drawing condemnation from Tbilisi and Western leaders. | Moscow later recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgia's rebel region - as independent states, drawing condemnation from Tbilisi and Western leaders. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with a French-brokered ceasefire deal. | Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with a French-brokered ceasefire deal. |
| But Moscow has said it plans to keep nearly 8,000 soldiers in the two rebel regions. | But Moscow has said it plans to keep nearly 8,000 soldiers in the two rebel regions. |
| Georgia - which has cut off its diplomatic ties with Russia - says the two regions are integral parts of its territory, demanding an immediate pullout of the Russian troops. | Georgia - which has cut off its diplomatic ties with Russia - says the two regions are integral parts of its territory, demanding an immediate pullout of the Russian troops. |
| Plea for patience | Plea for patience |
| The talks in Geneva were never going to be easy, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says. | The talks in Geneva were never going to be easy, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says. |
| This is why the EU and the UN are hoping to get them going with a fairly modest agenda: returning the displaced to their homes and encouraging renewed economic activity, our correspondent says. | This is why the EU and the UN are hoping to get them going with a fairly modest agenda: returning the displaced to their homes and encouraging renewed economic activity, our correspondent says. |
| On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in Geneva: "The international discussion that shall take place tomorrow is a beginning. This should not be seen as the end. | On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in Geneva: "The international discussion that shall take place tomorrow is a beginning. This should not be seen as the end. |
| "It may take time, so we need to have some patience," he added. | "It may take time, so we need to have some patience," he added. |
| Alexander Stubb, the current chairman of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said: "We know that this is a long process, we're taking it slowly, step by step." | Alexander Stubb, the current chairman of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said: "We know that this is a long process, we're taking it slowly, step by step." |
| Another major sticking point is the format of the talks themselves. | Another major sticking point is the format of the talks themselves. |
| Russia has been pressing for the inclusion of representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia in any discussions, but Georgia strongly opposes to the move. | Russia has been pressing for the inclusion of representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia in any discussions, but Georgia strongly opposes to the move. |
| Representatives from the two regions are in Geneva, but their role in unclear. | |
| Diplomats in Geneva are so nervous that they would not confirm who is sitting in the meeting room, our correspondent says. | |
| Return to story | Return to story |