The FINANCIAL — Russia plans to sign a series of deals with Abkhazia to bolster the Georgian breakaway region as an independent state, Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh late on September 14, Lavrov said Moscow would sign comprehensive treaties on cooperation and mutual assistance with Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the next few days. He expected a host of economic agreements to follow, RIA-Novosti reports.
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 recognizing Abkhazia and another pro-Russian province, South Ossetia, as independent states.
"This agreement will allow us to determine the presence of the military here," Lavrov told a news conference according to Reuters.
VOA News reports, 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.
RIA-Novosti announces, the counter actions of Russian Federation are more and more visible. According to Russian official government is planning to settle all issues concerning the embassy by the end of this year. Also the official added that a new building could be built for the diplomatic mission in Abkhazia’s capital – Sukhumi.
"In the nearest future experts from Moscow will arrive in Sukhumi to decide the location of the Russian embassy," the city mayor, Alias Labakhua said on September 15.
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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