Mr Medvedev made this announcement in a telephone conversation with President of France Nicholas Sarkozy.

The six conflict resolution principles, drawn up by the Russian and French Presidents, now have legal status after being signed by all of the parties concerned, and Mr Medvedev and Mr Sarkozy therefore discussed the steps to take for their practical implementation.

Mr Medvedev said it is essential that Georgia carries out unconditionally and in full its obligations to withdraw its forces to their permanent bases. He informed Mr Sarkozy that as from tomorrow, Russia will begin withdrawing the military contingent it sent to reinforce the Russian peacekeeping mission in response to the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia. The Russian contingent will withdraw to the security zone established by decision of the Joint Control Commission for Resolution of the Georgian-South Ossetian Conflict in 1999, and to the territory of South Ossetia itself.

The two Presidents agreed to maintain regular contact.

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