Lavrov to discuss cooperation strengthening with Abkhazia

SUKHUM (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
on Tuesday will hold talks with the Abkhazian leadership. They will focus
on the issues of further strengthening of the bilateral economic, military
and political cooperation.
"The basis of our cooperation with Abkhazia in the economic sphere is
formed by the Comprehensive Plan to promote socio-economic development of
the Republic of Abkhazia in 2010-2012," the information and press
department of the RF Foreign Ministry said." "The Sukhum-Gal automobile
road is under construction, capital repairs of the buildings of Abkhazian
State University is underway, as well as of a number of facilities of the
utilities sphere, industry and agriculture. This year it is planned to use
4.2 billion roubles."
"Abkhazia's security is reliably ensured within the military and
border cooperation," the ministry noted. During the visit, Lavrov will be
able to personally see this. The minister will make a brief trip on a
Coast Guard boat of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) border guar
department in Abkhazia.
Sergei Lavrov and his Abkhazian counterpart Maxim Gvinjia will
exchange notification messages on the fulfilment of the necessary domestic
procedures for the entry into force of previously signed bilateral
agreements on mutual visa-free travel. Another important issue that the
Russian minister plans to raise at meetings with the Abkhazian leadership
is the progress of the joint work to ensure the rule of law in matters of
property rights of Russian citizens in this republic.
In addition to economic and military cooperation, the two sides are
actively developing cultural ties. They plan to sign an intergovernmental
agreement on the establishment and terms of activity of information and
cultural centres. The minister will hand to the head of the State Russian
Drama Theatre of Abkhazia, Nina Balayeva, the Order of Friendship, which
she was awarded for her contribution to the development of cultural
cooperation between the two countries, and will attend the presentation of
the book "Russian in Abkhazia."
"During Lavrov's talks in Sukhum, the sides will thoroughly consider
our cooperation in the foreign policy sphere," the ministry emphasised.
"The issue of the Geneva discussions on security problems in
Transcaucasia, in which the Abkhazian and South Ossetian delegations take
an active part, will occupy an important place" at the talks. "We are
pleased with the gradual strengthening of the international positions of
young states," the RF Foreign Ministry noted. "We intend to continue to
energetically help them to establish relations in the world arena."