EU Monitors Start Georgia Patrols

[unhappycamper]

EU Monitors Start Georgia Patrols
October 01, 2008
Associated Press

GORI, Georgia - European Union monitors began patrolling Georgian territory Wednesday under a French-brokered peace deal, facing a Russian military that seemed reluctant to retreat.

The Russian peacekeeping forces said a day earlier they will not immediately allow any of the 300 EU monitors to enter a buffer zone surrounding the separatist South Ossetia region. The statement raised a fresh concern that Moscow was stalling on compliance with a cease-fire agreement reached after the August war with Georgia.

But when a group of EU observers arrived at a Russian checkpoint near the village of Kvenatkotsa at the perimeter of Russia's so-called "security zone" on Georgian territory, Russians quickly let them enter the area.

The Russian soldiers didn't allow reporters to follow the observers into the buffer zone, but let Georgian civilians pass after examining their vehicles. A small white dog barked at passing cars, and a handful of Russian troops at the checkpoint looked relaxed.

"The situation is very calm," Ivan Kukushkin, a Russian officer in charge of the checkpoint said.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/eu-monitors-start-georgia-patrols.html?col=1186032310810