SUKHUM, August 27 (Itar-Tass) —— Abkhazia intends to develop and broaden bilateral relations with Russia, Abkhazian President-Elect Alexander Ankvab told a press conference, which is the first one after the preliminary presidential election results were made public in the Republic of Abkhazia on Saturday.
Ankvab stated that the Republic of Abkhazia intends to keep working under the Abkhazian-Russian Treaty of Amity, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the then Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh signed in 2008.
Russia is a strategic ally of Abkhazia, Ankvab went on to say. “We value bilateral relations and will show to the world that Russia has made a very correct choice, recognizing the Republic of Abkhazia,” Ankvab pointed out.
He also thanked Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who congratulated the latter on a convincing victory at the presidential elections. “I believe that we will meet in the near future,” Ankvab said.
According to the preliminary election results, which Chairman of the Abkhazian Central Elections Commission Batal Tabagua has made public on Saturday, Alexander Ankvab was elected as president of the Republic of Abkhazia already in the first round. He gained 54.86% of votes. His main rival Sergei Shamba polled 21.04% of votes, Raul Khadzhimba got 19.83%. The turnout has made 71.92%.