Russia-Georgia talks to resume
US army in Georgia after the conflict. The international community watches over peace talks in Geneva today
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Wednesday, 19, Nov 2008 11:10
Delegates from Russia and Georgia are gathering in Geneva to further peace discussions between the two nations after previous attempts left issues unresolved.
The European Union, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the UN are co-hosting the talk with an informal approach to relax anxieties as last time both sides declined to even enter the same room.
The Russian military infiltrated Georgia on August 8th in order to prevent Georgia from taking back breakaway republics South Ossetia and Abkhazia, whose independence is recognised by Russia but not Georgia. It insists the regions are still its sovereign territories.
Russian military forces have since pulled out from Georgia in accordance with the EU-created ceasefire but around 7,600 troops still remain in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, angering Georgia.
The EU has said it is optimistic about the results of the talks but recognises that the situation is still touchy.
Though the ceasefire has been in place since August, conflict remains elevated between the two countries.
Gunfire and security episodes are common including a bomb explosion which killed two Georgian police officers on November 10th.