Medvedev vows Russia's support to S Ossetia, Abkhazia on status

Moscow, Aug 14 (UNI) President Dmitry Medvedev today vowed that Russia will support any decision made by the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia regarding the status of their republics.

''The position of the Russian Federation is unchanged. We shall support any decision the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will make in conformity with the UN Charter, the international convention of 1966, and the Helsinki Act on security and cooperation in Europe,'' Mr Medvedev said at a meeting with the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Eduard Kokoity and Sergei Bagapsh respectively in the Kremlin.

He added that Russia would not only support them, but also guarantee these decisions in the Caucasus and the world over.

The President said the legally binding agreement on the non-use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia should be signed with the guarantees of Russia, the EU and the OSCE and possibly with other guarantors.

Mr Kakoity and Mr Bagapsh signed the peace plan to resolve their conflict with Georgia, which was agreed on Tuesday during a meeting between Mr Medvedev and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.

Georgia has also accepted the plan.

UNI XC SKB BST1843