AVIGNON, France, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers have agreed that there is a need for an international investigation into the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia and the deployment of an EU observer mission to monitor the implementation of a peace deal.

    "We all stressed that there is a need for an international investigation as to how the crisis developed in Georgia," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who chaired the foreign ministers' meeting, on Saturday.

France's Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Kouchner arrives for the Informal UE foreign ministers meeting(GYMNICH) in Avignon, southern France, September 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "That investigation needs to be launched as soon as possible," he said.

    However, Kouchner failed to give details of the modality of such an investigation. He indicated that it could involve international bodies, non-governmental organizations or the United Nations.

    He noted that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he would immediately send a fact-finding mission to South Ossetia.

(R to L) European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, French Foreign Ministry State Secretary for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Union Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner attend a news conference for an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting in Avignon, southern France, Sept. 5, 2008. The two-day informal EU foreign ministers' meeting was opened in Avignon on Sept. 5. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Georgia launched a sudden attack in South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an attempt to regain control of the breakaway region. Tbilisi's move triggered prompt reaction from Russia, whose troops drove Georgian forces out of the region and took parts of Georgian territory.

    Since the start of the conflict, Tbilisi and Moscow have been accusing each other of ethnic cleansing.

    The immediate developments to the military conflict remains a myth.

    Solana's spokeswoman, Cristina Gallach, said Friday that Solana talked to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on the morning of Aug. 7 and urged him to show restraint in face of the escalating tension between Georgia and Russia.

    Saakashvili told Solana that he had offered a cease-fire to the Russians. Gallach said she could not explain why the conflict started before midnight on Aug. 7.

    French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered a six-point peace plan, travels to Moscow and Tbilisi on Monday in an attempt to secure a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia proper.

    The six-point peace plan provides for withdrawal of Georgian and Russian troops to pre-conflict positions.

    The West is accusing Russia of failing to honor its commitments by establishing security zones on the border of South Ossetia and another breakaway region of Abkhazia.

    The West also condemned Russia for its recognition of the two regions as independent states.

    On Saturday, the EU foreign ministers also agreed in principle to send an observer mission to Georgia to monitor the implementation of a peace plan between the Caucasian country and Russia.

    "We will have an observer mission in Georgia," EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana said at the end of an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting.

    Such a mission would be the EU's first in Caucasus, although it has had experience in the Balkans, noted Solana.

    He said a formal decision is expected at a formal foreign ministers' meeting on Sept. 15. The decision will take into account the results of Sarkozy's trip to Moscow and Tbilisi on Monday.

    Sarkozy will be accompanied by European Commission President Manuel Barroso and Solana.

    The size of the observer mission is yet to be decided. But there are words that its staff could be in hundreds.

    Russia has refused to allow Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers to re-enter South Ossetia after the Georgia-Russia conflict.

    Kouchner asked Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia proper. At the same time, he stressed the need for the EU to maintain dialogue with Russia.

    "Russia is a great country and Russia is our neighbor. No doubt, we must find the way to talk to each other," he said. 

Putin: Russia not to apologize for conflict with Georgia

    MOSCOW, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russia does not intend to apologize for its actions in the recent conflict with Georgia, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

    "We do not need to apologize to anyone, we are certain that we are right, nor are we going to argue," Putin said in an interview with the Rossiya television channel.  Full story

EU agrees to send observer mission to Georgia

    AVIGNON, France, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed Saturday to send an observer mission to Georgia to monitor the implementation of a peace plan between the Caucasian country and Russia.

    "We will have an observer mission in Georgia," EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana said at the end of an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting. Full story

Russia welcomes Nicaragua's recognition of South Ossetia, Abkhazia

    MOSCOW, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Moscow welcomes Nigaragua's decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

    The decision is not only an indication of the leaders' deep understanding of current international realities, but also a contribution to the formation of the international system on the basis of strict adherence to international law, the foreign ministry said. Full story

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United States will provide Georgia with a one-billion-dollar economic aid package, President George W. Bush announced Wednesday. Full story

Georgia breaks ties with Russia, welcomes EU summit outcome

    TBILISI, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Georgia formally cut diplomatic ties with Russia on Tuesday in protest against Moscow's recognition of the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions, and welcomed the decisions of an emergency EU summit on its conflict with Russia. Full story

Reports: Russia ends pullout from Georgian breakaway regions

    MOSCOW, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Russia has completed the withdrawal of its troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia to their permanent location, Itar-Tass news agency reported Tuesday, citing a military source. Full story