MOSCOW, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia will formally establish diplomatic relations with Georgia's self-proclaimed regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

    "On Sept. 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold negotiations with the foreign ministers of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Murat Dzhioyev and Sergei Shamba. They will exchange notes on the establishment of diplomatic relations," RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

    Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on Aug. 26, following a five-day war with Georgia that sentin troops to South Ossetia on Aug. 8 to reclaim control over the region run by Russian peacekeeping force.

    The recognition has not been echoed broadly in the international community but triggered strong objections from the West that is backing Georgia.

    Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that Moscow will not change its decision to recognize the regions.

    "We made this choice ourselves. It is final and irreversible," he told a press conference following talks with his visiting French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.

    The agreement on diplomatic relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia would be followed by "other agreements, under which we will provide them with economic, humanitarian and military support," Medvedev said.