Half a century milestone

Russia has legally consolidated its military presence in Abkhazia

Last Friday, Sergei Bagapsh took office as President of Abkhazia for the second time, and on Tuesday he arrived on an official visit to Russia. “This may sound banal, but this is a new milestone in our bilateral cooperation,” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said following yesterday’s negotiations with the head of Abkhazia. The most noticeable indicators of the “new milestone” were the agreements on the creation of a joint military base on the territory of Abkhazia and the opening of air traffic between the two friendly states. A total of nine agreements were signed yesterday in the presence of the two presidents. About twenty are still waiting their turn.

The 7th Russian military base in Gudauta is already deployed in Abkhazia. The number of personnel is 1.7 thousand military personnel. The Russian-Abkhaz agreement on military cooperation was signed in September last year. In accordance with the new agreement, Russia is given the opportunity to build, use and improve the infrastructure of a military base on the territory of Abkhazia, as well as the creation of a joint group of troops both in peacetime and in wartime. The document also provides for cooperation in issues resolved by the naval forces to ensure maritime communications and maritime security. The agreement was concluded for 49 years with automatic extension for subsequent five-year periods.

It was previously reported that in the event of a worsening of the situation, the size of the Russian Ministry of Defense contingent in Abkhazia could be promptly increased by more than double. Reinforcement could be made through personnel assigned to the Russian military base stationed in Abkhazia and stationed in Maykop.

Without a doubt, the document will cause a negative reaction from another Abkhaz neighbor - Georgia, but neither Moscow nor Sukhumi particularly takes its opinion into account. “Saakashvili is persona non grata for the Russian Federation,” the Russian president harshly declared yesterday. “The Georgian people must decide for themselves, within the framework of constitutional state procedures, who can govern their state and who can lead Georgia to prosperity and normal friendly relations with neighboring countries - both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia,” he believes.

In addition, an agreement on cooperation in the field of air transport was signed. True, which specific cities and with what frequency the planes will connect is still unknown. As Transport Minister Igor Levitin explained to Vremya Novostei, now, after signing official papers, airlines will be able to contact his department with statements.

“First, we must bring to the forefront cooperation on the state line in order to help the economy of Abkhazia get back on its feet, supply those types of products that are urgently needed for economic development, help in establishing the most important economic and social programs, give impetus to cooperation in banking sector, help the actual development of the banking system of Abkhazia, and then, on the basis of this, ensure an influx of private investment,” these are Russia’s plans for the neighboring country, voiced by Dmitry Medvedev. As the Minister of Economy of Abkhazia Kristina Ozgan explained to journalists, one of the most promising areas is the participation of Russian companies in the development of the energy system of Abkhazia.

The first agreement in the banking sector was also signed yesterday between the Russian Development Bank - Vnesheconombank and the Abkhazian Universal Bank. As the VEB press service reported, the parties identified the main areas of cooperation: expanding the volume of financial services and settlements, especially within the framework of the export financing program; development of cooperation in the field of project financing in order to ensure higher efficiency and profitability of jointly implemented investment projects. The parties consider projects in the field of infrastructure, tourism, communications and energy, as well as the development of small and medium-sized businesses, as priorities. The banks also intend to develop trade financing programs, mainly pre-export financing.

Vera SITNINA