French EU presidency urges Russia to accept truce

PARIS (Reuters) - The French European Union presidency urged Russia on Saturday to accept an offer from Georgia for a ceasefire in South Ossetia.

"It (the EU presidency) demands an immediate ceasefire. It welcomes the offer of the ceasefire from Georgia and expects from Russia that it will immediately accept such a ceasefire," it said in a statement issued in Paris.

It warned Moscow that its relations with the EU would be affected if it pursued its military operation.

Earlier, President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said he had proposed a three-point plan to end the fighting in South Ossetia, including a withdrawal of forces to their previous positions.

It also said European Union foreign ministers would hold an emergency meeting early next week to assess the situation and consider ways to end the conflict.

In its statement, the EU presidency said: "It (the EU) strongly proclaims its attachment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and urges Russia to respect these.

"It underlines that the pursuit of military action would affect its relationship with Russia."

The French government said Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner would travel to the region on Sunday to put Sarkozy's proposals to the parties concerned.

The plan included an immediate halt to hostilities and full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, according to Sarkozy's office.

It also called for "the re-establishment of the situation which prevailed previously in the area, implying the retreat of Russian and Georgian forces to their previous positions".

Speaking on French television, Kouchner said: "It is a terrible war, fearsome when something so small is at stake."

(Reporting by Tamora Vidaillet; editing by Andrew Dobbie)