12-08-10 Russia deploys air defence missiles in Abkhazia

Russia announced Wednesday it had deployed a missile battery in Georgia's pro-Moscow rebel region of Abkhazia,infuriating its arch foes in Tbilisi some two years after they fought a brief war."We have deployed the S-300 system on the territory of Abkhazia," air force commander-in-chief General Alexander Zelin said in a statement."Its role will be anti-aircraft defence of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,in cooperation with the air defence systems of the army." Georgia insists that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are an integral part of its territory but Russia in 2008 recognised the two regions as independent after its war with Tbilisi."The task of these air defence systems is not only to cover the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia but to avert violations of state borders in the air," Zelin said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.They were also aimed at the "destruction of any flying object penetrating into the covered territories,whatever aim they were flying with," he added.In Tbilisi,Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili told AFP that Russia's deployment "should be of concern not only for Georgia but also for other regional actors,including NATO."Georgia's ambition to join NATO has long flustered Russia.He said the move by Moscow could be linked to its anger over US plans to install missile defence facilities in former Communist bloc East European countries which have become members of NATO."This is changing the balance of power in the region," he said."It is also a kind of asymmetric answer to the American missile defence deployment in Eastern Europe.... The Russian government is saying 'if you can do it,we can do it'."