US State Department treats as illegitimate military agreement between Russia and Abkhazia

The US does not recognize the legitimacy of the agreement on the joint grouping of forces, concluded between Russia and Abkhazia. This was stated by John Kirby, US State Department Spokesman.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 2, the State Duma ratified the agreement on the joint grouping of forces of Russia and Abkhazia. It is concluded for the period of the Russian-Abkhazian Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership and defines mission, formation, deployment and use of the joint grouping of the Russian and Abkhazian armed forces.

"The United States strongly opposes the Russian Federation's ratification of an agreement secured with the de facto leaders in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia regarding a joint military force. We do not recognize the legitimacy of this so-called 'treaty,' which does not constitute a valid international agreement," the "Gazeta.ru" quotes today John Kirby as stating.

It is also noted that the United States continues to treat regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as integral parts of Georgia and demands from Russia to fulfil all of its commitments under the 2008 ceasefire agreement with Georgia, the "TASS" reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.