Russia opens talks on diplomatic ties

Russian combat helicopter flies over Georgia, on August 26, near the border with South Ossetia, near Akhalgori. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced he had signed a decree under which Russia formally recognises the rebel Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. AFP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has instructed the foreign ministry to open talks with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on establishing diplomatic relations with Russia.

Texts of decrees signed by Medvedev recognising the breakaway Georgian provinces as independent states, released by the Kremlin, order the ministry to launch the negotiations and to "draft corresponding documents". US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was "regrettable" that Russia formally recognised the rebel Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent.

"Abkhazia and South Ossetia are a part of the internationally recognised borders of Georgia and are going to remain so," Ms Rice said.

"As to the Russian apparent intention to recognise two parts ... I think it is regrettable," she said at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah after holding talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. "It puts Russia, of course, in opposition to a number of Security Council resolutions to which it is party.

"It simply means that the Russian president continues not to honour the commitments that the Russians have signed onto.

"The ceasefire also talked about the importance of moving forward to an international way to deal with these sorts of conflicts, so to preempt those international discussions is extremely unfortunate."

-The Australian