Abkhazia: Russia can use old Soviet base

Published: Oct. 17, 2008 at 10:00 PM

SUKHUMI, Georgia, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The foreign minister of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia said Friday that Russia will get no new bases there.

About 4,000 troops will be in the region, the Novosti news agency reported. Abkhazian officials say they will be based at Gudauta, a former Soviet airbase.

"We assume that derelict military bases in Abkhazia should be brought back to life to house the Russian military," the minister, Sergei Shamba, said.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence after Georgia sent troops to South Ossetia in an effort to bring the region back under its control and Russia responded by sending forces across the border. Only Russia recognizes the two as independent, and Georgia still claims them as part of its territory.

Shamba said that observers from the European Union are not welcome in Abkhazia.

"The EU is now on Georgian territory, they want to spread their observers to our territory. We will not agree to that," he said.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Changing doctor pay best bet to curb costs (26 min)
RadioShack seeking new headquarters (28 min)
Scientists find link between cancer genes (41 min)
Study: U.S. climate still changing
UPI NewsTrack Business
Jobless claims drop in week
Gorilla blood pressure device created
fark
Unknown substance found on NJ Transit train. Probably cleanser
90% of students at City University of New York can't do basic algebra. So, you know...just like...
"Main Street merchants want crack at market" in Santa Monica, says poorly worded headline. Presumably...
14-year-old boy attacked by cougar, police say. His girlfriend isn't amused
"Spiritualist" police trainer who called for the British police to include mediums and psychics...
First Paragraph: Police say a Twin Lake man broke into a woman's mobile home last week, pulled out...