Russia, Abkhazia agreed on joint naval base

18.02.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Sergei Bagapsh (Navy Times)

Talks between Russian and Abkhazian presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Sergei Bagapsh held Wednesday in Kremlin resulted in agreement on joint naval base at Abkhazian territory.

This document regulates order of use and operation of the base, including "cooperation with Abkhazian armed forces to defend sovereignty and provide security of the republic; counter international terrorist formations", use conditions of land plots and other assets as well as status of naval base personnel and their families.

Duration of the document is 49 years with possible prolongation for 15-year periods.

In April 2009 Moscow and Sukhumi tied agreement on joint efforts in Abkhazian border protection. Russian frontiersmen protect over 350 km of Abkhazian state border, including 215 km of sea border, 98 km of land border, and 39 km of river border.

In addition, Russia and Abkhazia signed agreements on maritime and aviation search at the Black Sea, on cooperation in countering illegal migration, on aircraft traffic, on military technical partnership, on transport cooperation etc.

Besides, presidents of the two countries signed documents dealing with disaster prevention and response, environment protection, and banking sector.

At present, regulatory structure of bilateral relations numbers dozens of documents. According to Russia's Vice Premier Sergei Ivanov, last year Russia and Abkhazia signed 25 various treaties and cooperation agreements.