Russia: Georgia must accept non-use of force deal

By Oleg Shchedrov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow will agree to peace with Georgia if it removes its troops far beyond the borders of South Ossetia and signs a legally binding promise not to attack it, Russia's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- in Moscow to mediate -- agreed on principles aimed at putting a stop to five days of conflict over Georgia's tiny separatist province.

They included a ceasefire, a pledge to renounce force, free passage for humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of troops to their bases. The need to determine the future status of South Ossetia, which seeks full independence, was also mentioned.

"These principles either reflect Russia's demands to the Georgian leadership or its intentions concerning the pace and aims of its peacekeeping operation in South Ossetia," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after they were announced.

Lavrov made it clear that Moscow sought tough terms -- the non-use of force and a troop pullout were core demands, he said.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's pledge not to attack the province, made after talks with the French and Finnish foreign ministers in Tbilisi on Monday, was not enough, Lavrov added.

"So far this has only been fixed in an informal political form," he said. "It requires the signing of a legally binding treaty on the non-use of force. This is a key point."

Georgian troops, which pushed into South Ossetia to restore Tbilisi's control after 16 years of self-proclaimed independence, should leave the border zone, he added.

"This is an absolutely binding condition that the Georgian side is to pull back its forces not only from South Ossetia, but also from other areas of Georgia from which they can shell and bomb the region," Lavrov said.

Lavrov was confident that Sarkozy, who flew to Tbilisi in the evening, would persuade Saakashvili to back the plan.

But he said Russia, which ordered its troops in the province to halt fire on Tuesday, was ready to be firm.

When asked what would happen if Georgia failed to back the plan, Lavrov said: "We will be forced to take other measures to prevent any repetition of the situation that emerged because of the outrageous Georgian aggression."

(Editing by Meg Clothier)