TRANSLATION - EU MONITORS

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EU Monitors Enter Georgia

After days of discussions EU ceasefire monitors made their first entry into the buffer zone designated by the Russians around South Ossetia yesterday . President Medvedev has confirmed that the Russian Military, who still control seven checkpoints around Ossetia and two around Abkhazia, will withdraw as planned by 10th October.
This is an important sign for the peace deal which was drawn up to avoid future conflict. However, the monitors will not be allowed into the two separatist regions , now recognized by Russia as sovereign states.
Almost two months after the outset of hostilities resulting from the Georgian invasion of Ossetia, there now looms the question of allowing the refugees to return. In any case, the Georgians who escaped after the arrival of the Russians are unlikely to get back those towns in the Ossetia territory. It seems rather unlikely that those Georgians who fled with the arrival of the Russians will be able to get back their villages situated in the Ossetia region.
The UE has sent over two hundred unarmed monitors to check the zone. Russian peacekeeping troops- in Ossetia and Abkhazia since 1992- will stay in the two regions, their number will go up to 600 units and they will be provided with bases and infrastructures . This is another of the controversial points of the agreement, reached also thanks to Sarkozy’s negotiations. The Russians are not going to leave/show no intention of leaving and the Georgians are not willing to formally recognize their presence in Abkhazia and Ossetia.