By Prensa Latina,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy will travel to Russia on Monday and later on to Georgia to mediate in the conflict between both countries on behalf of the European Union (EU). Sarkozy will be accompanied by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solanas and European Commission President Jose Durao Barroso.
According to sources from the French Presidency and Foreign Affairs Ministry, the main objective of his visit is to seek a deadline for the withdrawal of Russian troops from South Ossetia.
The EU will also seek Russia´s withdrawal from Abkhazia, but no deep discussion on Moscow´s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia independence are expected.
Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, will try to bring Russia to a negotiation table to discuss stability and secutiry in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Later on, the EU mission will travel to Tiflis to brief Georgian authorities on the initiatives adopted by the European Foreign Ministers in Avignon, France, where they agreed on sending a civil mission to Georgia.
Both in Moscow and Tiflis, the EU delegation will defend the idea of launching an international investigation with the support of the United Nations to determine responsibilities in the conflict.