Sarkozy: Russian troops will leave Georgia in a month

In a month, Russian troops will be completely withdrawn from the territory of Georgia, said President of France Nicolas Sarkozy after negotiations with President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev.

We remind you that President of France has arrived to the capital of Russia for discussing with Dmitri Medvedev the settlement of the crisis around of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and observance by Moscow and Tbilisi of the six principles of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan.

"What we have decided with president Medvedev means that in a week at the most the block-posts between Senaki and Poti will be removed," Mr Sarkozy has summed up the negotiation results with his Russian counterpart, also attended by representatives of the European Commission.

"In a month, a complete withdrawal of Russian Armed Forces from the Georgian territories outside Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Nicolas Sarkozy has added as quoted by the RIA "Novosti".

Russia has also undertaken to withdraw all its peacekeeping forces from the areas adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia within 10 days after setting up international mechanisms there, the ITAR-TASS quotes Mr Medvedev as saying.

"This withdrawal will take place within 10 days after deployment there of international mechanisms, including at least 200 observers from the European Union, which should happen on October 1, 2008, at the latest" Russian President has emphasized.

President of France Nicolas Sarkozy believes that the international discussion of the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia can start in Geneva under UN auspice in the near future.