Geneva - Agreement was reached Thursday to allow humanitarian aid workers and assistance to reach some of the most vulnerable refugees from the Russian-Georgian war this past summer, senior diplomats said.

While the agreement said the sides would strive to let the aid into areas within South Ossetia and Abkhazia to aid internally displaced people there before the end of the year, no rigid timeline was agreed upon, the negotiators told dpa.

Also, the Russian and Georgian sides agreed to ensure the supply of utilities, such as water and gas, to each other.

Georgia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia have been at odds over this issue since before the outbreak of violence in August.

Two working groups met Thursday as part of the third round of talks between the warring parties since the conflict. One discussed refugees and the other security.

On the issue of returning IDPs and refugees to their homes, no progress has been made yet, and officials said it was still too dangerous for many of them to return.

Over 100,000 people were said to be displaced by the war.

The next round of talks is set to take place in February. (dpa)