MOSCOW. Aug 23 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Abkhaz Defense Minister Merab Kishmaria will sign an agreement to fund the modernization of Abkhazia's Armed Forces.
"Today we will discuss and sign an agreement to further develop our military-technical cooperation and upgrade the weapons of the Abkhaz Armed Forces. Welcome to Moscow," Shoigu said at his meeting with Kishmaria on Friday.
Russia and Abkhazia have formed a common defense and security space, he said.
"We were the first country to recognize this republic's independence. We continue to extend comprehensive assistance to it. The documents and agreements we signed in 2014 and 2015 are quite important, and, of course, there is our military base, which we continue to reinforce and which acts as a guarantor of stability thanks to our joint efforts," Shoigu said.
Kishmaria, in turn, thanked Russia for its contribution to Abkhazia's security.
"I want to especially thank [Russia] for the fact that the seventh base has been working to maintain security together with the joint group that we have formed. We give you credit for that; above all, to your officers and generals who are working with our officers, generals and Defense Ministry to ensure security. I once again express my gratitude for the statehood that is guaranteed here by your forces," Kishmaria said.
Russia and Abkhazia officially launched bilateral military cooperation when Russia recognized the republic's independence following Georgia's aggression against Abkhazia and South Ossetia in August 2008. Russian peacekeepers forced Georgian troops to leave Abkhazia and South Ossetia, thus guaranteeing the security of people living in the two breakaway republics. Subsequently, the Russian Armed Forces opened two military bases in the two republics to guarantee their security.