Russian FM Lavrov Is Interviewed On The Russian Pullout From Georgia

Sergei Lavrov says Moscow trusts the European Union observers

Lavrov Looks Beyond Army Pull-Out -- BBC

As Russian troops pull back from its so-called buffer zones inside Georgian territory, next to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov tells the BBC how he sees the region's future unfolding. The text of the interview follows:

BBC: Minister, the withdrawal from the buffer zone has now started. Can you guarantee it will be completed by the end of 10 October?

LAVROV: Absolutely. The withdrawal was conditioned on the deployment of EU observers in the areas of Georgia adjacent to the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The withdrawal started very soon after the first contingent of EU observers arrived, and it will be complete by 10 October as agreed by Presidents Medvedev [of Russia] and Sarkozy [of France].

We have discussed through our peacekeepers in those areas with the EU observers, the need to follow certain procedures including for the EU observers to clearly take stock of what we are leaving behind, and signing documents which would testify to the fact that they are taking over the area.

Because the EU… undertook to be the guarantor of the non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia, it is important that these procedures are followed very scrupulously.

We have also indicated to our European friends that the recent series of provocations against South Ossetia and against Abkhazia, which took place in the last few days, causes concern and we warned them very seriously to pay attention to the need to keep these areas free from any illegal or legal armed groups, except for the Georgian police, which must look after law and order there.

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My Comment: As far as the Russian FM is concerned, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are now two independent provinces from Georgia, and the priority of the EU is to insure that this becomes the defacto situation.