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Fresh Russia-Georgia talks begin Fresh Russia-Georgia talks begin
(about 2 hours later)
Representatives from Russia and Georgia have begun talks in Geneva aimed at defusing tensions after their five-day conflict over South Ossetia in August. Representatives from Russia and Georgia have begun talks in Geneva to try to defuse tensions after their five-day conflict over South Ossetia in August.
The talks, mediated by the UN and the European Union, are designed to encourage a return of stability and security to the region. The talks, mediated by the UN, EU and OSCE, aim to encourage a return of stability and security to the region.
But major disagreements over the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could make the talks tricky. But major disagreements over Georgia's rebel areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could make the talks tricky, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes says.
Just a month ago a first round of talks in Geneva fell apart after one day. A first round of talks in Geneva fell apart after one day.
The Russian and Georgian delegations were never even in the same room together, leaving diplomats from the EU and the UN gritting their teeth as they tried to sort out differences over seating arrangements. The Russian and Georgian teams were never even in the same room together, leaving EU and UN diplomats gritting their teeth as they tried to sort out differences over seating arrangements, our correspondent says.
'No titles''No titles'
This time, those tricky niceties may be solved, but fundamental disagreements remain. Russia had been insisting that delegates from South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be full participants at the talks.
Russia says it wants delegates from the disputed territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to be full participants at the talks. Georgia had argued that they were integral parts of its territory, and therefore should not be treated in Geneva as independent states.
Georgia says they are integral parts of its territory, and therefore should not be treated in Geneva as independent states. On Wednesday, proceedings seem to have begun rather more modestly: delegates from all parties were in the negotiating room, but none was wearing an official government badge, our correspondent says.
However, one delegate reported that both sides got round this issue by deciding not to use official titles. Abkhaz representative Maksim Gunjia said before the talks that his delegation expected that "all four sides will be as constructive as possible".
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who brokered a ceasefire between the two sides, admits Russia has not yet withdrawn the agreed number of troops from South Ossetia. "There are going to be eight participants, no countries, no names, just participants of the discussions," Mr Gunjia said, adding that they would be focusing on security issues and refugees.
Privately, however, French diplomats say recent contacts with Moscow and Tbilisi have been positive. On Tuesday, Amnesty International said in a report that more than 20,000 ethnic Georgians were still unable to return to their homes in South Ossetia.
Nevertheless, no-one is betting on any quick breakthrough at these talks. Its report said a "twilight zone" had been created along the de facto border between Georgia and its rebel region, "into which people stray at their peril".
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country brokered a ceasefire between the two sides in August, has admitted that Russia has not yet withdrawn the agreed number of troops from South Ossetia.
Privately, however, French diplomats say recent contacts with Moscow and Tbilisi have been positive, our correspondent says.
But she adds that no-one is betting on any quick breakthrough at these talks.