Russia to keep 500 troops in Georgia buffer zone

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia intends to keep 500 troops in a security zone surrounding Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

"Tomorrow, 8 checkpoints will be established in the security zone in which 500 peacekeepers will be deployed, no more than that," Lavrov told reporters. "Other peacekeepers will be moved to South Ossetia, while other troops will be moved to Russia."

Lavrov did not specify how many troops Russia planned to keep in South Ossetia.

"I want to state this clearly and unequivocally that Russia is carrying out in full the six principles agreed between Medvedev and Sarkozy," he said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy brokered a six-point ceasefire, which was signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"These principles allow the Russian peacekeepers to take additional measures to ensure security in the security zone," Lavrov added.

"There is still work to be done to finally adjust the shape of the security zone. This work will be completed tomorrow."

The buffer zone is a sensitive issue for Georgia and its Western allies because it allows Russian troops to remain deep inside Georgia's heartland and close to the country's main east-west highway, on which its economy depends.

(Writing by Oleg Shchedrov; editing by Christian Lowe and Tim Pearce)

Terra/Reuters