Medvedev: Republic recognition is final

NICE, France, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said after the 22nd Russia-European Union summit that his country's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is final.

The Russian head of state said after the international talks in Nice, France, that there likely would be no revisions of his country's official recognition of the two runaway Georgian states, ITAR-TASS reported Saturday.

Medvedev said in addition to recognizing the two states, which he said had been targeted by Georgia in the past, Russia was prepared for other Caucasus settlement talks.

"We are ready for a further constructive discussion of settlement in the Caucasus. We are ready to discuss this directly, looking each other into eyes," the president said.

"Russia recognizes Georgia's territorial integrity taking into account the fact that it recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia."

ITAR-TASS reported that Medvedev said thanks, in part, to the efforts of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his country was able to resolve the conflict in South Ossetia and enjoy fruitful talks with EU officials during the summit.