Sukhum/Agency Caucasus – The Georgian Parliament’s resolution to increase the number of Georgian troops to 37 000 from 32 000 received from Nugzar Ashuba, Speaker of Abkhazia’s Parliament, the remarks that Georgia sought to exalt its potential to regain its control over Abkhazia.
Ashuba made a statement about Georgia’s move to add additional forces to its army. "We have oftentimes asserted that Georgia did not give up its ideal of annexing Abkhazia by force. That is why Georgia arms itself so as to improve its military potential," Ashuba said. By increasing its military power, Georgia posed a great threat to Abkhaz citizens, said Ashuba, and added that the Armed Forces of Abkhazia did not see it necessary to add additional troops to its currently existing forces because unlike Georgia, Abkhazia acted in self-defense. "However," Ashuba said, "there are plans to modify the quality of the army, like making laws so as to allow the whole army to consist of mercenary soldiers." For this purpose, the Abkhaz parliamentarians will return in early September from their one-month annual vacation to make legal changes to the ‘Armed Forces Reserve Act.’
Sergei Bagapsh, President of Abkhazia, said on July 5 that the Abkhaz intelligence service had found out that Georgian forces had drafted a new plan to affix Abkhazia back to itself. Bagapsh further said that Georgian armed forces had the fastest growth rate in terms of its expenditures. Georgia buys modern arms and military vehicles and increases its military presence on its border to Abkhazia.
In terms of its ability to defend itself, Abkhazia was far better than it had been during its war against Georgia in 1992-1993 when it had been able to drive Georgian troops back, said Bagapsh. "In the past, only with our shotguns, we were able to stop Georgian tank fleets; today, those who are not our friends will see how better the professional Abkhaz armed forces are in self-defense. KU/ÖZ/FT
