Berlin - Germany Wednesday welcomed Russian moves to begin withdrawing troops from the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said the move was an "urgently necessary contribution to reducing tension" in the region.

He expressed the hope that further substantive measures would be taken by both sides to reduce tension further.

Ploetner said Germany was closely involved in attempts to arrange high-level talks between the conflicting parties.

Neither venue nor date had yet been set, the spokesman said, although Berlin was an option.

Georgia strongly objected to the presence of the 450 troops sent to repair railways in the province, saying Russia was moving towards creeping annexation of the province. (dpa)