(KARALETI) - European diplomats were allowed to enter a buffer zone controlled by Russian forces near Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia for the first time on Friday.

But the ambassadors from Estonia, Latvia and Sweden were restricted to visiting only one village, an AFP reporter said. The diplomats crossed into the buffer zone at a checkpoint near the village of Karaleti.

"It is the first time that a delegation of ambassadors from countries of the European Union succeed in entering the buffer zone," said Sweden's Ambassador to Georgia Hans Gunnar Aden.

He added however that the visit was "a small step" since Russian forces refused to allow a truck carrying humanitarian aid to cross and restricted access to only one village.

"This mission is important so we can determine the humanitarian needs in these Georgian villages. It's also important to verify that the Russian agreement not to prevent free movement is being upheld," he said.

Russia has said it will only pull troops out of the buffer zone once international controls, including military observers and police, are in place in the area and once Georgia signs a non-aggression pact.

Western countries have called on Russia to withdraw troops from Georgia immediately and have condemned Moscow's decision to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another rebel province of Georgia.

Russian troops poured into Georgia last month to repel an attack by the Georgian army aimed at retaking South Ossetia. They have remained deep inside Georgian territory in what Moscow has called "security zones."

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