Russia’s plan in Abkhazia worries Nato
Nato member states are concerned by Russia’s decision to build a naval base in the breakaway territory of Abkhazia
By James Blitz in London, FT
Published: January 29 2009 02:01
Nato member states are concerned by Russia’s decision to build a naval base in the breakaway territory of Abkhazia, a move which the alliance believes would further underline Moscow’s violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.
Although Russia and Nato have seen a gradual improvement in relations in recent weeks, Jaap de Hopp Scheffer, Nato’s secretary-general is set to raise the issue when he meets Sergei Ivanov, the Russian deputy prime minister, next week.
Nato member states became concerned about this issue after Russian media reported on Monday that Russia would start building a naval base this year in the Abkhaz port of Ochamchira, a step Tbilisi said would violate its sovereignty.
The issue was on Wednesday discussed at the regular weekly meeting of Nato ambassadors in Brussels. Several nations expressed concern about the move and the fact that it would deepen perceptions that the secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia last August is now irreversible.
“Nato allies have made their position clear on Georgia’s territorial integrity and that includes all of Georgia’s recognised borders,” said James Appathurai, Nato spokesman. “They have seen the press reports suggesting Russia might build bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and they view them with concern.”
Some analysts have long argued that Russia’s invasion of Georgia last August was partly motivated by strategic military considerations.
Russia’s navy has a warm water port at Sevastopol in Crimea but the lease on this from Ukraine is set to run out in 2017. “The Russians need a warm water port. They see the realistic possibility that they are going to lose the Crimea and that may be motivating what they are doing in Abkhazia,” a diplomat from a Nato country said on Wednesday night.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported earlier this week that Abkhazia and Russia have an agreement in principle on opening a base this year for ships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet at the Abkhaz port of Ochamchira.
Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh said “threats of subversive acts by Georgia” are pushing Russia and Abkhazia to accelerate talks on the base, the state-run news service reported.
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