October 29, 2008	Wednesday	Shawwal 29, 1429

SAINT PETERSBURG, Oct 28: Russia opposes the deployment of European Union monitors in two Georgian rebel provinces and will enforce security there itself, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

“Security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is assured by Russian military contingents after the recognition of their independence by Russia,” Lavrov said at a press conference with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

“As far as the European Union monitors are concerned, we believe the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan should be respected. It says they should be deployed in areas adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Lavrov said.

The European monitoring mission, comprising 225 unarmed observers, deployed in Georgia on Oct 1 as part of a ceasefire agreement agreed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to end an August war between Georgia and Russia.—AFP