Russia to establish Black Sea Fleet naval facility in breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia will construct a Black Sea Fleet naval facility in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, the latter's representative said on Thursday.

"We have signed an agreement, and in the near future there will be a permanent Russian naval station in the Ochamchyrsky district," Aslan Bzhania told Russian daily Izvestia.

The agreement, he said, is aimed at increasing the level of defense capability of the Russian Federation and Abkhazia, and such cooperation will continue because this is "ensuring the fundamental interests" of the two countries, and "security is above all."

The Georgian Foreign Ministry was quick to voice concern over the Russian decision.

It called on Moscow "to respect international obligations and implement the cease-fire agreement signed with the mediation of the European Union on Aug. 12, 2008."

In 1992-1993, Georgia fought a 13-month war with Abkhazian separatists backed by Russia.

In August 2008 another conflict, known as the South Ossetian War, broke out in the region. After eight days of fighting, Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally declared independence from Georgia.

Russia supported the decision, which led to Georgia's decision to break diplomatic ties.