Russia expects Belarus, Syria, Libya, Jordan and Morocco to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Russia established diplomatic relations with Tskhinvali and Sukhumi yesterday. In the near future, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign intergovernmental agreements on friendship and cooperation with the leaders of the two freshly recognized republics. Among other things, the agreements propose the placement of Russian military bases on the territories of the republics. Moscow is hoping that other countries will begin to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. There is particular hope for Belarus, Syria, Libya, Jordan and Morocco. The CSTO member states have not taken a decision yet.
Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba said the heads of state plan to sign the agreements in the nearest future. After that, they may be supplemented by individual bilateral agreements. "There is a point in the conciliated document on military cooperation with Russia, but still it is a general political agreement. We have plans to conclude a separate agreement on military cooperation," Shamba said.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov reported to the Russian president that an agreement had been reached with the South Ossetian and Abkhazian authorities that the Russian military contingent will consist of 3800 people in each republic. "The structure of the forces and their placed of stationing have been determined. In South Ossetia, that will be the cities of Dzhava and Tskhinvali, and in Abkhazia so far that is the places where peacekeepers were," the Minister said, Kommersant daily reports.
Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba said the heads of state plan to sign the agreements in the nearest future. After that, they may be supplemented by individual bilateral agreements. "There is a point in the conciliated document on military cooperation with Russia, but still it is a general political agreement. We have plans to conclude a separate agreement on military cooperation," Shamba said.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov reported to the Russian president that an agreement had been reached with the South Ossetian and Abkhazian authorities that the Russian military contingent will consist of 3800 people in each republic. "The structure of the forces and their placed of stationing have been determined. In South Ossetia, that will be the cities of Dzhava and Tskhinvali, and in Abkhazia so far that is the places where peacekeepers were," the Minister said, Kommersant daily reports.
