France against US playing primary role in resolving Georgian-Ossetian conflict

Франция против того, чтобы США играли первую скрипку в грузино-осетинском урегулировании

The US is not suited to the role of lead mediator in resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The statement was made by French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner.

In Kouchner's opinion, the United States is actually part of the conflict, as it is present in Georgia and is equipping its armies, reports Channel 1.

As IA Regnum reported earlier, Bernard Kouchner and Alexander Stubb, head of Finland's MFA and acting chairman of the OSCE, arrived in Tbilisi on August 11th where they held talks with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. On August 12th, European diplomats will hold talks in Moscow with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov. Also on August 12th, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will arrive in the Russian capital for talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Sarkozy intends to propose his own plan for resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, which is presumed to include a ceasefire and the return to pre-August 6th positions.

However, IA Regnum's sources in diplomatic circles are saying that the French plan is not likely to be met with Russian support: Moscow has its own plan which it intends to propose to Tbilisi.

IA Regnum