The FINANCIAL – Russia sent its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, to the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia on September 14 in a visit that Georgia has described as a "farce."
According to Reuters, Sergei Lavrov was the most senior Russian official to go to Abkhazia for at least 15 years. Russia defeated Georgia in a five-day war last month and drew Western condemnation by recognising Abkhazia and another pro-Russian province, South Ossetia, as independent states.
Lavrov held talks with separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh on a cooperation treaty likely to be signed within days.
"This agreement will allow us to determine the presence of the military here," Lavrov told a news conference according to Reuters.
According to VOA News, Lavrov said Russia plans to create what he calls transparent borders with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, similar to what exists among European Union states. This would mean freedom of travel between the regions and dual citizenship.
Lavrov also criticized NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's comments that Georgia and Ukraine will one day join NATO as irresponsible and inappropriate.
Eka Tkeshelashvili, the Georgia’s foreign minister, who condemned this move by her Russian counterpart, said that the visits were an attempt by Russia to give some type of pattern of statehood to the two breakaway regions.
According to VOA News, Russia has recognized South Ossetian and Abkhazian independence, angering the United States and European Union, which have pledged to support Georgian territorial integrity.
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