Medvedev, Sarkozy discuss Russia-Georgia conflict

Moscow, Aug 24 (UNI) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed Russia-Georgia conflict on telephone last night with his French counterpart Nikolas Sarkozy.

''The President of France gave a positive assessment of the Russian side's plans to withdraw its reinforced peacekeeping brigade to the security zone, to South Ossetia and to Russia within the agreed time frame,'' the Kremlin press service reported today.

''Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy discussed some issues related to implementing the fifth principle (on security measures) of the conflict resolution principles that were agreed on August 12 in Moscow,'' it said.

''They also touched on cooperation between Russia and France in the UN Security Council for the accelerated adoption of a resolution relating to these conflict resolution principles and cooperation between Russia and the EU,'' it noted.

The telephonic conversation between the two presidents took place after the Russia's announcement on Friday that it had completed pullout of troops from Georgia.

However, the West challenged the Russian claims setting the stage for a new stand off with Russia.

The Deputy Chief of Russia's General Staff yesterday said 180 Russian peacekeepers would remain in South Ossetia, over 2,400 in Abkhazia, the another breakaway region of Georgia, and 272 in Georgia proper.

UNI XC ARB AS1612