Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, said on October 10 that Russian forces had pulled out from the areas adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

He said in a statement that the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) had verified that Russian armed forces had dismantled 12 checkpoints and one military base in the zone adjacent to Abkhazia and five checkpoints and one signal post in the zone adjacent to South Ossetia.

“I am happy to announce that EUMM patrols have confirmed that Russian armed forces have completed their planned withdrawal from the areas adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Solana said. “This withdrawal will, we hope, allow internally displaced people to return to their homes and contribute to the normalisation of living conditions in these areas. I further hope that the presence of EUMM monitors in these areas will decrease tensions, contribute to a sense of security and enhance respect for the rule of law.”

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement on October 9 that the Russian side has already notified the European Union about withdrawal of Russian forces from the areas adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia “in compliance with the Medvedev-Sarkozy documents signed on August 12 and September 8.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry also expressed hope that UN and OSCE observers would join EUMM in its efforts to control security in those areas.

“We see the observers’ major task in preventing recurrence of the use of force by Georgia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “We expect that maintaining law and order and suppressing any provocations and incidents there will also be their task”