Sarkozy meets with Medvedev about Georgia

MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and European Union leader Nicolas Sarkozy agreed Tuesday on six principles to resolve the crisis in Georgia.

Sarkozy, the French president, met with Medvedev in Moscow to discuss the situation in Georgia, then the two presented the principles at a news conference, reported RIA Novosti, the Russian information agency.

The principles include not resorting to force, ending military action, ensuring access to humanitarian aid, and the return of the Georgian and Russian armed forces to their bases.

The sixth principle "is the beginning of international discussions on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and on ways to ensure their security," Medvedev said. The two regions historically have had ties with Russia.

Medvedev also said that Georgia's Aug. 8 attack on South Ossetia's capital of Tskhinvali should be considered when deciding the status of the regions, RIA Novosti said. He said the residents of the two regions also should be consulted on whether they wanted to be part of Georgia.

Sarkozy said European Union members were willing to join peacekeeping operations in South Ossetia.

The French leader plans to present the plan to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tblisi, the Georgian capital.