(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign ministers will meet Friday seeking to reinforce their unified line on Russia ahead of crucial talks next week between the French and Russian presidents on the Georgia crisis.

Just days after an emergency EU summit on Georgia, the foreign ministers will hold two days of talks in the French town of Avignon where they are expected to stress that Russian troops should withdraw to the positions held before the conflict began on August 7.

The EU heads of state and government on Monday announced a freeze on talks with Moscow on a new strategic partnership pact pending that retreat.

Russia argues that keeping some troops in Georgia conforms with an agreed six-point peace plan, illustrating the ambiguities inherent in the French-brokered text which was hastily drawn up to secure a ceasefire deal on August 12.

At the Brussels summit French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country holds the EU presidency, announced he would meet his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow next Monday to seek solutions.

However keen to maintain a dialogue the European leaders stopped short of imposing any immediate sanctions against Russia, though they did announce "a careful in-depth examination" of EU-Russia relations to be completed ahead of the next European summit in November.

The foreign ministers in Avignon will probably "begin to talk about having this audit of our relationship with Russia," one British diplomat said.

These relations had already deteriorated before the Georgia crisis, amid differences over issues ranging from the security of energy supplies from Russia to Europe's recognition of Kosovo and US missile shield plans in Europe.

The "audit" could eventually reveal the areas in which sanctions could be imposed should Russia remain intransigent, diplomats said.

To further prepare for Sarkozy's key trip, which will also take him to Tbilisi, the foreign ministers will discuss the parameters of a European Union mission to observe the ceasefire.

While the EU summiteers agreed on a European "presence on the ground" the benefits will depend on Russian cooperation, European diplomats admit.

Russia launched military action against Georgia last month after Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to retake the Moscow-backed territory, which broke from Tbilisi in a conflict in the 1990s.

It has since withdrawn some forces but left others deep inside Georgian territory.

Russia has also recognised both Ossetia and fellow rebel region Abkhazia and wants to maintain a buffer zone between them and Georgia proper.

Tbilisi has labelled the Russian soldiers an occupying force, Moscow calls them peacekeepers.

"The real danger is Russian soldiers simply rebadging themselves as peacekeepers," rather than withdrawing, warns Andrew Wilson, of the London-based European Council on Foreign Relations.

Above all the foreign ministers will be determined not to damage the unity displayed at Monday's summit.

Then member states such as Britain and Poland who sought a firm line on Russia found common ground with Germany, Italy and others which have voiced caution about alienating the resurgent Russian bear.

To provide a very visible sign of unity, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who will preside over the talks, has invited his 26 EU counterparts to travel together by train from Paris to Avignon.

A diplomatic source said just one, Italy's Franco Frattini, had so far declined the invitation.

The EU foreign ministers will also discuss other international topics at their two days of informal talks including relations with the United States where a presidential election is in the offing.

Foreign Ministers' Meeting - Gymnich

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.