SUKHUMI. April 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh and South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity have said they believe that the fact that Georgia is increasing its military spending threatens their republics and vowed to jointly oppose this threat.
"Why is Georgia arming? It is doing so not against Russia, Armenia, or Azerbaijan. It will fight against South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We should be united in case there is a military threat against one of our republics - Abkhazia, South Ossetia, or Transdniestria," Bagapsh said at a press conference in Sukhumi.
All steps taken by the leaders of the self-proclaimed republics are aimed at ensuring security of their peoples, he said.
"We also have friends and foes. We pin our hopes on the Russian Federation and do not conceal this. What Russia is doing in relation to Abkhazia and South Ossetia these days lies within the framework of that great phenomenon that is called mutual assistance," Bagapsh said.
Kokoity noted that growing military spending "cannot be something Georgia should be proud of, as it has no neighboring countries threatening its security."
He also insisted that the existing conflicts cannot be resolved militarily.