International talks on Georgia begin in Geneva

GENEVA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- International talks on the situation in Georgia began here on Wednesday, with the participation of senior representatives from the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The expert-level talks, jointly sponsored by the UN, the EU and the OSCE, came after a conflict between Russia and Georgia in August.

A diplomat told reporters that a total of 12 people were attending the talks.

Russia and Georgia are represented by deputy foreign ministers Grigory Karasin and Grigol Vashadze respectively.

Representatives from Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are also present at the talks.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried was also attending the Geneva talks.

The five-day conflict broke out on Aug. 8 after Georgia launched a sudden attack to regain control of its breakaway regionof South Ossetia. Russia sent in troops the next day and pushed back the Georgian forces.

Soon after the fighting ended, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region of Georgia.

The Geneva talks will only last one day and are aimed at starting a process of dialogue, diplomats and officials said.

The talks are just a beginning and more time is needed to solvethe whole Georgia issue, including security and stability of the region, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said late Tuesday.

"It may take time, so we need to have some patience when addressing this issue," Ban told journalists in Geneva after a dinner with senior European officials, including Alexander Stubb, the current chairman of the OSCE.

Ban said that at the initial stage, the parties concerned -- Russia and Georgia -- need to restore confidence, and only after that they can discuss practical issues such as the return of displaced people and the stability of the region.

Stubb echoed Ban's views. "We know that this is a long process, so we're taking it slowly, step by step," he told journalists on Tuesday.