Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said here on Tuesday that he was open to talks with representatives from breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia at the upcoming Geneva conference, but not with the politicians from the two regions.

"We don't think these people are politicians, we think they are criminals from our point of view and the point of view of international criminal law," he said at a joint press conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Saakashvili said this when asked if Georgia would take part in Wednesday's conference in Geneva if politicians from the two regions showed up.

He also said he would not engage talks with Russia unless that Russian troops pull out of the two regions.

"We will reach out, but first the Russians should get out of there," he said, adding "We are more than happy to cooperate with any community, with any representative, but not in this kind of situation."

Saakashvili's remarks overshadowed talks scheduled to begin in Geneva on Wednesday between Georgia and Russia over security issues in the Caucasus.

Russia insists that politicians from the two regions take part in the talks.

EU diplomats reportedly said to hope for a compromise formula whereby representatives of the two regions could be allowed to take part informally.

The talks, to be co-chaired by the EU, UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, is part of a six-point cease-fire agreement mediated by the EU.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations in August following its conflict with Georgia, while Georgia says they are part of its territory.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2008)