by Mark Silva
It's probably a good thing that the Obama administration has pushed the "reset button'' in relations with Russia.
With Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's announcement today that Russia will spend as much as 16 billion rubles ($487 million) next year to develop a military base in the breakaway region of Abkhazia and fortify the border of the separatist Georgian territory, memories of Russia's five-day war with Georgia just a year ago may linger fresh on the minds of the world's diplomats.
Russia recognized Abkhazia as a sovereign country after the war over another breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia. Russia has deployed thousands of troops in the two regions.
"On a visit to the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi today, the first anniversary of a European Union-brokered cease-fire agreement that brought the fighting to an end, Putin renewed Russia's pledge to defend Abkhazia against attack and to help the region rebuild its economy,'' Bloomberg News notes.
"The Abkhaz people will succeed in reviving their economy as Russia continues to give systemic economic and political -- and, if needed, military -- support," Putin told reporters after talks with Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh.
Putin recently returned from vacation outside the town of Kyzyl, in Southern Siberia, where he boned up on his horseback skills. The Russians are putting a lot of horsepower into Abkhazia.
President Barack Obama recently returned from Russia.
On his way there, he noted this of Putin: "I think he would admit that his formative years were shaped on the Cold War and that some of his continued grievances with respect to the West are still dated in some of the suspicions that came out of that period... I think he genuinely would like to see U.S.- Russians relations improve.''
(Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pictured on vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia earlier this month in a photo by Alexsey Druzhnin /AFP / Getty Images)
Comments
I see Vladimir is showing off his man-boobs again...
Good god, I think I need some eye bleach!
.
Posted by: DrainYou | August 12, 2009 4:07 PM
Putin could beat up Chuck Norris.
Posted by: Mike | August 12, 2009 6:04 PM
I think Obama started a trend when he was photographed in a bathing suit on vacation last year.
I also think this is way more than I wanted to know about Vladimir Putin.
Posted by: ornery | August 12, 2009 7:18 PM
Mark, you call the Russian invasion of Georgia "a war?" When "fighting ended?" Can you please state what fighting Georgia did? It seems to me Russian invaded Georgia and there wasn't a dang thing Georgia could do about it.
This one thing is certain though: Putin's ego and reassembling the Soviet Empire desires are about as big as his man boobs.
Posted by: John D | August 12, 2009 7:57 PM
Do you think Senator McCain can get Putin to run as his Vice-Presidential running mate, the next time? At least, Putin will know a little something about Russia !! That would get him some votes from the Bush&Cheney fringe, they like those bully-wannabe types !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 12, 2009 10:14 PM
I'm sure all those former Soviet satillite states are resting comfortably knowing the BO is running things. BO should be apologizing to Putin for Reagan calling the Soviet Union an evil empire any day now.
Posted by: Terry | August 12, 2009 10:54 PM
More mindless blatherings from Don Fitzgerald:
Do you think Senator McCain can get Putin to run as his Vice-Presidential running mate, the next time? At least, Putin will know a little something about Russia !! That would get him some votes from the Bush&Cheney fringe, they like those bully-wannabe types !!
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 12, 2009 10:14 PM
Don, I think you need to join your friend, John E., at the Elgin Mental Health Center.
Posted by: John D | August 13, 2009 10:12 AM