The presidents of Abkhazia and Russia signed...
The deal was signed during Kremlin talks between President Dmitry Medvedev and his Abkhazian counterpart, Sergei Bagapsh, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday on the first visit since his reelection as president of the tiny region on the Black Sea.
According to the agreement, the base will "protect Abkhazia"s sovereignty and security, including against international terrorist groups."
Russia has maintained a 1,700-strong force in Abkhazia with its headquarters in Gudauta, a former Soviet military base on the Black Sea coast north of the capital, Sukhumi, under a September 2009 agreement on military cooperation.
Moscow recognized the republic"s independence in August 2008 after a five-day war to repel an assault by U.S. ally Georgia on another breakaway region, South Ossetia.
Previous reports said the new deal would allow Russia to build new infrastructure and double troop numbers in the event of a security threat.