Abkhazia Against Deepening of Georgia-NATO Military Cooperation
12:04 17.03.2016(updated 12:05 17.03.2016)
Abkhazia has an extremely negative attitude toward the deepening of military cooperation between Georgia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, viewing NATO's willingness to grant Tbilisi membership as a dangerous provocation, the Abkhazian foreign minister said Thursday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – During a September 2014 NATO summit in Wales, a package of measures to advance Georgia's efforts in its preparations for NATO accession was approved.
'This process cannot but concerns us. Having received the appropriate military training, warfare experience, as well as modern high-efficient weaponry, Georgia is immensely increasing its offensive capabilities… it is a direct threat to Abkhazia's security. Therefore, we view the deepening of ties between Georgia and NATO very negatively,' Viacheslav Chirikba told RIA Novosti.
He added that NATO's interest in granting Georgia membership is a dangerous provocation that might destabilize the entire region.
In 2008, Georgia launched a military offensive against the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, ending in a five-day war with Russia. Both regions declared their independence from Georgia in the early 1990s and were recognized by Russia following the 2008 conflict.
The 'Georgian dream' ruling coalition that won the parliamentary election in 2012, has repeatedly declared its intention to restore control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia once it has joined the European Union and NATO.
© Sputnik
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