NOVO-OGARYOVO. March 13 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that, in five years after Abkhazia gained independence, it is still facing a lot of problems that need to be resolved.
"We will soon be marking five years from the moment we established diplomatic relations," Putin said at a meeting with Abkhaz President Alexander Ankvab on Tuesday.
"We can sum up some results of how Abkhazia is getting on its feet and how you are resolving problems, which you have more than you would wish to have, although this is always so. Nevertheless, they need to be resolved, however difficult they may seem at first glance," Putin said.
Ankvab also mentioned importance of the upcoming date.
"I agree that this is a very important date to us - I mean the anniversary of our independence and the anniversary of Russia's recognizing us," he said.
"We have done a lot already," Ankvab said.
The Abkhaz leader had met with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow on March 11.
Patrushev and Ankvab determined "ways of interaction between the two countries' Security Councils to ensure international security in this region. They discussed aspects of cooperation in strategic planning to form a system for ensuring Abkhazia's national security, including in the defense area and in countering terrorism, religious extremism, and crime," the Russian Security Council press service told Interfax in commenting on outcomes of Patrushev's meeting with Ankvab.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia also received Ankvab in Moscow earlier.