"I am happy to announce that the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) patrols have confirmed that Russian armed forces have completed their planned withdrawal from the areas adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Solana said in a statement.
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Russian soldiers withdraw from a checkpointnear South Ossetia Oct. 8, 2008. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) |
Solana expressed the hope that "the presence of EUMM monitors in these areas will decrease tensions, contribute to a sense of security and enhance respect for the rule of law."
The EUMM, deployed in Georgia at the beginning of this month, has verified that Russian troops have dismantled 12 checkpoints and one military base in the zone adjacent to Abkhazia and five checkpoints and one signal post in the zone adjacent to South Ossetia.
Russia sent troops to the Georgian territories one day after Georgia launched a sudden attack and retook South Ossetia on Aug. 8. Russian forces pushed back Georgian troops during a five-day war in South Ossetia.
Under a French-brokered ceasefire pact, Russia agreed to pull out its soldiers from undisputed parts of Georgia by Oct. 10, but will keep its troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. On Aug. 26, Moscow recognized the two regions as independent states.
