Russia Endorses Six-Point Plan

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has endorsed a six-point plan on ceasing hostilities in Georgia after meeting with his French counterpart, Nikolas Sarkozy.

Medvedev read out the six points at a joint news conference with Sarkozy, who is expected to arrive in Tbilisi this evening to seek President Saakashvili’s endorsement as well.

“The first [principle] – a commitment not to use force,” President Medvedev said. “The second – complete cessation of military actions. The third – free access for humanitarian assistance. The fourth – the return of Georgian armed forces to places of their permanent location. The fifth: the Russian peacekeeping forces take additional security measures before creation of international mechanisms. The sixth: the start of international discussions on the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and ways of providing for their stable security.”

He said that if the Georgian side was realistically prepared to sign and subsequently withdraw its forces and implement these principles, “the way towards gradual normalization of the situation in South Ossetia will be opened.”

“The Ball is in Tbilisi’s court,” he said.

The French president said at the news conference that “our intention was not to sort out all the issues."

“We have tried to find solutions on paper that could allow us short-term means to achieve an agreement,” Sarkozy, whose country holds the EU presidency, said. “This provisional ceasefire can become a permanent one.”