U.N. chief pledges aid for Georgia conflict victims

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations is ready to continue providing humanitarian aid to those left homeless or destitute by the conflict in Georgia, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday.

Speaking after an anniversary ceremony for the U.N. climate panel, Ban declined to comment on the diplomatic rifts that have developed following Russia's military intervention in Georgia but said he considered the situation serious.

"I am deeply concerned about what has happened in that area, Georgia, and I have been discussing that matter even yesterday with leaders of the concerned parties, and I am continuously engaged in this issue," he told journalists in Geneva.

"I have made it quite clear that the United Nations stands ready to provide good offices and also we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people, including in South Ossetia," the U.N. chief said.

Moscow has pulled back much of the force it deployed three weeks ago to crush Georgia's attempt to take back separatist province South Ossetia.

European Union leaders will meet in Brussels on Monday to debate the bloc's response to Russia's move and the latter's decision to recognize South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, as independent states.

(Reporting by Laura MacInnis; editing by Tony Austin)