SUKHUMI. April 11 (Interfax-South) - Abkhazia believes that an agreement between Georgia and the U.S. on defense cooperation could destabilize the situation in the region, Abkhaz Vice President Valery Arshba told Interfax on Friday.
"Abkhazia will not admit U.S. servicemen onto its territory," Arshba said. "The strategic policy our republic is pursuing is aimed at developing the closest possible relations with Russia," he said.
Arshba invited Russia to reconsider the possible restoration of a Russian military base in Gudauta, which is on Abkhaz territory. "Only Russia can guarantee peace in the area of Georgian-Abkhaz conflict," Arshba said.
"The U.S. has already entered Georgia, and I do not rule out that Tbilisi could use the American military for resolving the problem of Abkhazia," he said.