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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Khadzhimba, it is a great pleasure to see you.

I want to start today’s meeting by noting that relations between Russia and Abkhazia are developing very successfully and we have put a good legal base in place.

But our experts and the members of our parliaments have reached the conclusion that we need to take further steps to give ourselves the best possible conditions for developing economic ties, guaranteeing reliable security for Abkhazia, and most important of all, improving people’s lives. 

I am very happy to see you and I am sure that today’s meeting will give a good boost to developing the full range of our relations.

President of Abkhazia Raul Khadzhimba: Thank you.

Mr President, it is likewise a great pleasure to be here.

Our country faced quite a difficult situation for a long time. Today we have entered into a new stage in our relations. The signing of the agreement [on alliance and strategic partnership] will definitely allow us to build on the opportunities that Russia has already offered us.

This concerns security and also issues regarding Abkhazia’s socioeconomic development. We place our hopes on these relations and we have no doubt that the assistance provided will be genuinely useful for our country.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We both know that Russia plans to double the amount of assistance it provides compared to last year and even this year’s figure.

Raul Khadzhimba: This will give us the possibilities we need to develop our economic potential. Over these past years, we have focused more on social projects, but the task today is to raise our country’s economic capabilities. 

Vladimir Putin: This is very good.

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