MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced Tuesday an end to military operations in South Ossetia, the Interfax news agency reported.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is
seen in the Gorki residence outside Moscow August 10, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
At a meeting with the Russian defense minister and
the head of the Russian general staff, the president said, "I have made a
decision to stop the operation to force the Georgian authorities to peace."
Medvedev said Russia had achieved its aim in the
region and the security of Russian peacekeepers and civilians had been restored.
"The aggressor was punished and sustained considerable losses."
However, Medvedev was also reported to have ordered
the Russian military to "eliminate the aggressor" in case Georgian forces resume
hostilities.
The Itar-Tass news agency said Deputy Chief of
General Staff Anatoly Nogovitsyn had confirmed the ceasefire order, saying
Russia is awaiting Georgia's reaction to the statement by the Russian president.
During a meeting with his French counterpart Nicolas
Sarkozy Tuesday, Medvedev put forward two prerequisites for peace in the
Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.
"We can discuss a final settlement to the situation,
which will be possible on condition that Georgian troops pull back to their
initial positions, with a partial demilitarization of armed forces and the
second, the signing of a legally binding ceasefire agreement," he said.
Sarkozy, whose country now holds the presidency of
the European Union (EU), said Russia should use its military strength to ensure
peace although its desire to protect compatriots' interests in South Ossetia was
understandable.
He hailed Russia's decision to end military
operations against Georgia, saying France and the EU would do everything to
restore peace in the region.
Georgia began a military action against South
Ossetia's forces last week in an attempt to re-establish control over the
region. In response, Russian troops moved into the region to fight the Georgian
forces.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (L)
and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attend a meeting in Russia's Defence
Ministry headquarters in Moscow, August 11, 2008. Russia's military said
on Monday it would not extend its action beyond South Ossetia after
sending troops and tanks to push Georgian forces out of the breakaway
region.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (2nd
R) listens to the report by Chief of Staff General Nikolai Makarov (R) as
Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov (L) and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
came to the headquarters for a meeting in Moscow, August 11, 2008.
Russia's military said on Monday it would not extend its action beyond
South Ossetia after sending troops and tanks to push Georgian forces out
of the breakaway region.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday Russia's
announcement to halt its offensive against Georgia is "positive."
"Certainly what has been announced today is positive
compared to what we heard yesterday," Khalilzad said in an interview with the
National Public Radio. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy agreed
Tuesday on six principles for ending the hostilities in the Georgian breakaway
region of South Ossetia.
Among the six principles, the first is not to resort
to the use of force, the second is to stop all military action, the third is
free access to humanitarian aid, and the fourth is Georgian armed forces should
return to their bases, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Medvedev as saying. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili said Tuesday that his country will withdraw from the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS), Russian news agencies reported.
"We are fully withdrawing from the CIS and suggest
that other countries also leave this association run by Russia," Saakashvili was
quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. Full story
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia was calling for an
extraordinary meeting with NATO so that the alliance can be informed of Moscow's
moves in South Ossetia, said Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin on
Monday. Full story
