OREANDA-NEWS. August 9, 2010. President of Russia held talks with President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh addressing economic and security cooperation and assistance in rebuilding the republic.

Mr Medvedev also met with residents of Sukhum and with Russian tourists holidaying in the country and discussed with them the events of August 2008, stressing that Russia’s decision to recognise South Ossetia’s and Abkhazia’s independence made it possible to avoid a protracted bloody conflict.

The President laid flowers at the monument to those killed in the 1992-1993 Abkhazian-Georgian war and visited the state philharmonic building and Alexander Pushkin School, restored with Russian aid.

Later in the day, Mr Medvedev visited the Russian military base in Gudauta.