Georgia, Russia hold direct talks

Georgian and Russian officials have begun their first direct talks since the conflict over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia in August. The talks in Geneva - which are be mediated by the UN, the EU and the OSCE - are aimed at encouraging stability and security in the Caucasus. Georgia, Russia hold direct talks But they are unlikely to provide a solution to the dispute, diplomats say. In August, Russia fought a brief war to repel Georgian troops trying to regain control of South Ossetia. Moscow later recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgia's rebel region - as independent states, drawing condemnation from Tbilisi and Western leaders. Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with a French-brokered ceasefire deal. But Moscow has said it plans to keep nearly 8,000 soldiers in the two rebel regions. Georgia - which has cut off its diplomatic ties with Russia - says the two regions are integral parts of its territory, demanding an immediate pullout of the Russian troops. The talks in Geneva were never going to be easy, the BBC in Geneva says. This is why the EU and the UN are hoping to get them going with a fairly modest agenda: returning the displaced to their homes and encouraging renewed economic activity, our correspondent says. On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in Geneva: "The international discussion that shall take place tomorrow is a beginning. This should not be seen as the end. "It may take time, so we need to have some patience," he added. Alexander Stubb, the current chairman of the Organiyation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said: "We know that this is a long process, we're taking it slowly, step by step." Another major sticking point is the format of the talks themselves. Russia has been pressing for the inclusion of representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia in any discussions, but Georgia strongly opposes to the move. Representatives from the two regions are in Geneva, but their role in unclear. Diplomats in Geneva are so nervous that they would not confirm who is sitting in the meeting room, our correspondent says.

Georgia, Russia hold direct talks

But they are unlikely to provide a solution to the dispute, diplomats say.

In August, Russia fought a brief war to repel Georgian troops trying to regain control of South Ossetia.

Moscow later recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgia's rebel region - as independent states, drawing condemnation from Tbilisi and Western leaders.

Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with a French-brokered ceasefire deal.

But Moscow has said it plans to keep nearly 8,000 soldiers in the two rebel regions.

Georgia - which has cut off its diplomatic ties with Russia - says the two regions are integral parts of its territory, demanding an immediate pullout of the Russian troops.

The talks in Geneva were never going to be easy, the BBC in Geneva says.

This is why the EU and the UN are hoping to get them going with a fairly modest agenda: returning the displaced to their homes and encouraging renewed economic activity, our correspondent says.

On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in Geneva: "The international discussion that shall take place tomorrow is a beginning. This should not be seen as the end.

"It may take time, so we need to have some patience," he added.

Alexander Stubb, the current chairman of the Organiyation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said: "We know that this is a long process, we're taking it slowly, step by step."

Another major sticking point is the format of the talks themselves.

Russia has been pressing for the inclusion of representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia in any discussions, but Georgia strongly opposes to the move.

Representatives from the two regions are in Geneva, but their role in unclear.

Diplomats in Geneva are so nervous that they would not confirm who is sitting in the meeting room, our correspondent says.