“The Russian base in Abkhazia is a stabilizing factor,” Bagapsh was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

The Abkhazian leader also said that the Gudauta base could form the basis of a Russian-Georgian anti-terrorist centre. “Georgia and Russia are negotiating setting up an anti-terrorist centre and I believe the Gudauta base would be that, it has everything required,” he said.

The president of the unrecognized republic also said that the issue of “replacing the peacekeepers in Abkhazia with Ukrainians and NATO forces is being raised at the moment”.

“We do not intend to admit any but the Russian forces. Our position on this is unambiguous and precise. If the departure of the Russian peacekeepers and arrival of others were suggested, we would take the same stance. And that would be an aggravating factor,” Bagapsh said.

Source: Mosnews