MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2018) Moscow and Sukhumi see their cooperation in ensuring Abkhazias security as one of key priorities of bilateral relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Putin held meetings with Abkhazian and South Ossetian presidents, Raul Khadzhimba and Anatoly Bibilov, in Moscow. The visits are timed to the 10th anniversary of Russia's recognition of the two states' independence.
�We attach great importance to our interaction in ensuring the security of Abkhazia. It concerns cooperation between our armed forces and border service agencies.� In my view, this work has been organized quite effectively,� Putin said.
Khadzhimba noted that the recognition of Abkhazias independence was a �centuries-old dream of the Abkhazian people.�
�We would like our cooperation in social and economic area, foreign policy, and the creation of new opportunities in defense and security to be more intensive. I hope that our today meeting will let us settle many of these issues," Khadzhimba said.
Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s alongside another breakaway region of South Ossetia. Georgia launched a military offensive against the latter in August 2008, prompting Russia to interfere to protect its numerous citizens living there. Moscow recognized the independence of both regions later that month. Georgia still considers both republics to be part of its territory.
