MOSCOW
Russia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia signed Monday a strategic alliance partnership agreement, which includes a controversial collective defense pact.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and self-proclaimed President of Republic of Abkhazia Raul Khadzhimba signed the agreement in Sochi, Russia.
Abkhazia pledged to mutual protection in case of any foreign aggression.
The pledge is similar to how NATO pledges protection for its 28-member states.
Michael Aastrup Jensen and Boriss Cilevics, who are co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for Georgia, termed the agreement a violation of international law.
The new agreement says that within three years, Russia and Abkhazia will establish a joint military force. The Russian army has pledged to modernize the Abkhazian forces.
Kremlin said Russia plans to double the amount of assistance to Abkhazia.
According to a statement issued by Kremlin, Putin welcomed the new agreement.
"Our experts and the members of our parliaments have reached the conclusion that we need to take further steps to give ourselves the best possible conditions for developing economic ties, guaranteeing reliable security for Abkhazia, and most important of all, improving people’s lives,” Putin said.
Khadzhimba said that Abkhazia faced quite a difficult situation for a long time.
“Today we have entered into a new stage in our relations,” he said.
Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia in 1999, with Russia formally recognizing it in 2008, following a six-day Russian-Georgian war over the South Ossetia.
Abkhazia is recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.
Moscow pledged in the new agreement to strive for having Abkhazia recognized by other countries.
On the other hand, majority of UN countries consider Abkhazia to be part of Georgia’s territory.
www.aa.com.tr/en
