World Focus: Russian delegation arrives late for testy talks with Georgia

Russia's diplomatic war with Georgia was fought in the halls of the UN in Geneva yesterday, where the Russian delegation arrived late for long-scheduled talks on the future of Georgia's breakaway territories and was accused of storming out early.

It was a shambolic start to internationally sponsored talks expected to last for months. The next session has been fixed – provisionally – for 18 November.

The negotiations stemming from the peace agreement that ended the six-day war between the two countries in August are being held under the auspices of the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The EU's special envoy, Pierre Morel, said the talks were rescheduled after "procedural difficulties".

These hinge on the participation of the leaders of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, whose independence was recognised by Russia in the aftermath of the war, prompting protests from Georgia and the rest of the world. The conflict was triggered by Georgia's military attempt to recover the territories , but Russia retaliated by invading Georgia proper.

The Russian delegation, led by the deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, arrived 50 minutes late, after the Georgians objected to the Russian-backed Abkhazia and South Ossetia leaders having equal status. The Russian and Georgian delegations never met face to face, according to sources close to the talks.

The meeting was convened to discuss compliance with an EU-brokered ceasefire, security, the return of refugees and human rights. The August agreement brokered by Nicolas Sarkozy provided for the talks to focus on "security and stability arrangements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia" after Georgia refused a Russian demand for their future status to be part of the talks.

European leaders remained divided last night over how to handle EU relations with Russia after the Georgia war. France, which holds the EU presidency, had hoped that others would agree to reschedule talks with Moscow on a partnership agreement which were suspended after the war. But the former Soviet bloc states which are now EU members want Moscow to complete its military withdrawal from Georgia before the talks are resumed.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who favours renewed engagement with Russia, said yesterday that he would promote Russian membership of the EU in the coming years.