(TBILISI) - European Union monitors in Georgia held high-level talks with Russian military officials Tuesday to discuss efforts to reduce violence near the rebel South Ossetia region, the EU mission said.

The head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM), Hansjorg Haber, met the deputy commander of Russia's ground forces, Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich, between Russian and Georgian-controlled territory on the border of South Ossetia, the EUMM said in a statement.

"Both sides expressed their concerns about the situation in areas adjacent to the South Ossetian boundary line and stressed the importance of full compliance" with ceasefire agreements, the statement said.

EUMM Spokesman Steve Bird said it was the highest-level meeting yet between EU monitors and the Russian military.

Yevnevich told Russia's Interfax news agency that the goal of the meeting was to "ensure security and maintain stability" near South Ossetia and another rebel Georgian region, Abkhazia.

He said the two sides agreed to hold regular meetings and to meet again this month with the participation of Georgian, South Ossetian and Abkhaz officials.

The European monitoring mission, comprising 225 unarmed observers, deployed in Georgia on October 1 as part of an EU-brokered ceasefire agreement to end the war with Russia in August.

The EU has called for its monitors to be allowed into South Ossetia and Abkhazia to monitor the ceasefire, but Moscow and rebel leaders have so far refused.

Russian forces moved into Georgia on August 8 to repel a Georgian military attempt to retake South Ossetia, whose breakaway administration had long enjoyed extensive support from Moscow.

Under the ceasefire, Russian forces later withdrew to within South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow has recognised as independent states.

But sporadic violence has continued, including reports of heavy shooting over the weekend on the border between South Ossetia and Georgian-controlled areas. No casualties were reported from the shooting.

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