EU urges Russia on conflict resolution

The European Union has called on Russia to take constructive steps for the settlement of the long-standing Chechen and Abkhaz conflicts.

Anna Lindh, the foreign minister of Sweden, which currently holds the EU presidency, said there could be no lasting peace and stability in the region without the resolution of what she described as the frozen conflicts.

She was speaking in Georgia after talks with President Eduard Shevardnadze.

The Swedish foreign minister also urged Georgia to continue with its reform programme and to keep up its efforts to combat corruption.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service