On August 12, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and FrenchPresident Nicolas Sarkozy met in the Kremlin to coordinate principlesfor settling conflicts in Georgia. They include the non-use of militaryforce, a definitive halt to hostilities, and free access for humanitarianaid. The Georgian troops must return to their permanent deploymentsites, and the Russian troops must withdraw to their initial positions.The Russian peacekeepers are to implement additional security measureswhile awaiting an international mechanism.

DECREE
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ON THE RECOGNITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH OSSETIA

1. In the light of the expression of the free will of the South Ossetian  people to recognise the Republic of South Ossetia as a sovereign and independent state.

2. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is to hold negotiations with the South Ossetian side on establishing diplomatic relations and to formalise the agreement in relevant documents.

3. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is authorised to hold, with the participation of interested federal executive bodies, negotiations with the South Ossetian side on the preparation of a draft treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, and to submit this document in accordance with the established procedure.

4. Taking into account the appeal of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is to guarantee, until conclusion of the treaty stipulated in Clause 3 of this Decree, the implementation by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation of peacekeeping functions on the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia.

5. This Decree shall enter into force as of its signing.

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev
The Kremlin, Moscow
August 26, 2008
No 1261