French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating European Union (EU) presidency, held "long" phone conversations with his Russian and Georgian counterparts Wednesday in a bid to defuse the tension in the Caucasus.
"President Sarkozy recalled the position of the EU presidency following Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," a presidency statement said Thursday.
During his conversation with the two leaders, Dmitry Medvedev and Mikheil Saakashvili, Sarkozy also referred to the extraordinary meeting of the European Council to be held on Sept. 1 to discuss the crisis in Georgia.
The French president "stressed the urgent need to defuse tension and apply in full the six-point ceasefire agreement," the presidency said.
"The in-depth discussions also focused on the implementation of additional security measures and the question of refugees."
Georgia sent in troops to reclaim South Ossetia earlier this month, triggering a military offensive from Russia.
France brokered the six-point ceasefire deal between Moscow and Tbilisi with Russia's full withdrawal of troops from Georgia at its core.
On Tuesday, Russia moved to recognize the independence of the two breakaway regions of Georgia, stirring up condemnation from the West and further straining ties with it.
Moscow has said recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is a response to those who accused Russia of planning to annex the two regions.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was the first to evoke sanctions against Russia on Thursday.
"Sanctions are being considered, and many other means" will also be under consideration at the emergency summit of the 27-nation EU.
"We are trying to draw up a strong text showing our desire not to accept" what the Russians did concerning South Ossetia and Abkhazia, said Kouchner, without giving further details.
Source:Xinhua
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