By KUNA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has continued a marathon round of consultations and contacts with world leaders with the aim of bringing an end to the hostilities between Russia and Georgia over the issue of South Ossetia, which both sides seek to control of the troubled area.
Sarkozy also said that after contacts with both sides, he intended to travel to Moscow in the coming days, his office announced late on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the French leader continued telephone conversations with the protagonists and also with European and other international leaders, including US President George W. Bush and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.
On Saturday, he spoke with British Premier Gordon Brown and leaders in a number of Western and Eastern European countries. Sarkozy particularly held a 45-minute telephone conversation Sunday with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev, having earlier spoken with Georgian leader Mikhail Saakachvili, the second conversation in two days.
It was agreed after the conversation with Medvedev that Sarkozy would travel to Moscow in his capacity as President of the European Union.
Meanwhile, the French leader reiterated his plan for a halt to the hostilities, a plan that includes an immediate cease-fire, recognition of Georgian sovereignty within internationally-accepted borders and a return to the “status quo ante,” with both side withdrawing to their positions before the conflict erupted in mid-week.
There would also be international accompanying steps such as observers or maybe some form of inter-positional force acceptable to both sides.