French PM sees talks on Russia-EU pact in October

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his French counterpart Francois Fillon at the International Investment Forum at the Russian Black Sea resort town of Sochi September 19, 2008.

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Saturday talks on a Russia-EU pact, postponed after Russia's invasion in Georgia, could resume in early October.

"The EU position is clear: we hope the talks will resume as soon as the provisions of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan are carried out," Fillon told a news conference after talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Under a plan agreed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russia agreed to withdraw its forces from undisputed Georgian territories soon after the European Union deploys monitors there.

"There are no reasons not to resume talks early next month," Fillon said.

Russia launched a counter-attack by land, sea and air last month after Georgian forces tried to retake the Moscow-backed breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Western states condemned Russia's actions as disproportionate, and Moscow's relations with the West soured.

European Union leaders agreed at an emergency summit on Sept. 1 to postpone talks with Russia on a new partnership pact, which had been due to take place in the middle of this month.

The pact is due to regulate relations in the energy sector and on trade. The EU struggled for 18 months to agree its own mandate for talks which finally started this July.