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Georgia-Russia talks 'collapse' Georgia-Russia talks 'collapse'
(19 minutes later)
Talks between Georgian and Russian officials on the recent conflict over Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia have collapsed, Georgian officials say.Talks between Georgian and Russian officials on the recent conflict over Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia have collapsed, Georgian officials say.
They say the Russians did not attend an opening session of the Geneva talks, mediated by the UN and the EU. They say the Russians did not attend an opening session of the Geneva meeting, mediated by the UN and the EU. Moscow has made no comment on the outcome.
The meeting was aimed at encouraging security in the Caucasus, following a truce between Moscow and Tbilisi. The talks were aimed at encouraging security in the Caucasus, following a truce between Moscow and Tbilisi.
In August, Russia fought a brief war to repel Georgian troops trying to regain control of South Ossetia. In August, Russia ousted Georgian troops trying to regain South Ossetia.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
Moscow later recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgian rebel region - as independent states, drawing condemnation from Tbilisi and Western leaders. In a separate development, the International Court of Justice ordered Georgia and Russia to protect civilians from ethnic discrimination in South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgian rebel region.
Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with a French-brokered ceasefire deal. Tbilisi had asked the court to order Moscow to protect ethnic Georgians in the two regions, but judges at the UN's highest court ruled that all civilians were at risk.
Russia has recognised both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, drawing condemnation from Georgia and Western leaders.
Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with the 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. Tbilisi - which has cut off its diplomatic ties with Moscow - says the two regions are integral parts of its territory, demanding an immediate pullout of the Russian troops.
Plea for patience
The talks in Geneva - meant to be the first face-to-face meeting since the fighting ended - were never going to be easy, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes says.
A major sticking point was the format of the meeting itself.
Russia had been pressing for the inclusion of representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia in any discussions, but Georgia strongly opposes to the move.
Sergei Chamba, the foreign minister of the Abkhazia region, earlier said there had been two separate meetings in Geneva - "the Russians and the Abkhazians (in one) and the Georgians in another".
On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the meeting in Geneva was just "a beginning".
"It may take time, so we need to have some patience," Mr Ban said.
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