Putin visits breakaway Abkhazia region

Putin visits rebel Abkhazia, vows to defend it against Georgia and promises $500 million to build bases, strengthen borders. Georgia calls his visit a provocation.

SHOWS: SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA (AUGUST 12, 2009) (RTR- NO ACCESS RUSSIA)

1. RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN GETTING OFF HELICOPTER, SHAKING HANDS WITH ABKHAZ LEADER SERGEI BAGAPSH

2. MEMORIAL TO ABKHAZ WHO DIED FIGHTING GEORGIA IN 1992-1993 WAR

3. PUTIN AND BAGAPSH TAKING PART IN WREATH-LAYING CEREMIONY

4. MEMORIAL

5. PUTIN AND BAGAPSH AT MEMORIAL

SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA (AUGUST 12, 2009) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

6. ABKHAZ GOVERNMENT MEMBERS AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WAITING FOR PUTIN

7. PUTIN ENTERING, GETTING SEATED

8. BAGAPSH ADDRESSING PUTIN

9. PUTIN ADDRESSING ABKHAZ OFFICIALS

SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA (AUGUST 12, 2009) (RTR - NO ACCESS RUSSIA)

10. PUTIN AND BAGAPSH SHAKING HANDS, GETTING SEATED

11. PUTIN

12. BAGAPSH

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Russia has done a lot in the previous years, and especially in the last year in order to support the people of Abkhazia and to support the independence of Abkhazia. But there would be no harvest if the seed is put into a bad soil. The people of Abkhazia have done a lot and demonstrated their best quality such as courage, patience, persistence and talent in order to achieve what we have seen in the past year."

14. PUTIN AND BAGAPSH MEETING

15. PUTIN AND BAGAPSH VISITING MATERNITY HOUSE BUILT WITH RUSSIA'S MONEY

16. NURSE HOLDING NEWBORN BABY

17. NEWBORN BABY

TBILISI, GEORGIA (AUGUST 12, 2009) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

18. GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING

19. GEORGIAN AND EU FLAGS

20. GEORGIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER NALBANDOV ENTERING ROOM

21. MEDIA

22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEXANDER NALBANDOV, GEORGIAN DEPUTY FM, SAYING:

"Unfortunately this is yet another challenge with regard not only to Georgia but with regard to entire international community that apparently shows that Russia completely neglects and ignores its international obligations, completely neglects and ignores rules of game which are widely accepted in civilised international community. It is really a pity and it is once again demonstrates who is the main source of destabilisation and tension in this region and not only in this region."

23. NALBANDOV TALKING TO MEDIA

24. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEXANDER NALBANDOV, GEORGIAN DEPUTY FM, SAYING:

"No later than tomorrow through diplomatic channels via Swiss side which is a mediator between us the respective note of protest is going to be transmitted to the Russian Federation and, of course, we have already drawn the attention of international community to this yet another provocative step."

25. NALBANDOV TALKING TO MEDIA

STORY: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to the breakaway region of Abkhazia on Wednesday (August 12) , pledging half a billion dollars to strengthen the defences of the Moscow-backed rebel enclave.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and another breakaway region, South Ossetia, as independent states last year after Russian troops repelled a Georgian attempt to retake South Ossetia in a five day war which ended on Aug. 12, 2008.

Tensions have been rising along the de facto borders between the regions and Georgia proper, raising concerns that another conflict could be easily sparked.

Putin said Russia would spend 15-16 billion roubles ($500 million) in 2010 on strengthening Abkhazia's defences, including shoring up its borders and equipping Russian military bases.

The rest of the world -- apart from Nicaragua -- still views Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of Georgia, though Russia has deployed several thousand troops to the regions and has military bases in both enclaves.

Both regions broke away from Georgia's rule after wars in the early 1990s and have run their own affairs ever since. They are heavily dependent on Russia.

After laying the wreath to the monument of Abkhaz died in 1992-1993 war with Georgia, Putin held talks with Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh.

He praised the people of Abkhazia, "The people of Abkhazia have done a lot and demonstrated their best quality such as courage, patience, persistence and talent in order to achieve what we have seen in the past year," said Vladimir Putin during the meeting.

Putin later visited a new maternity house where male twins were born half an hour before his arrival. The babies will be called Vladimir and Dmitry, in reference to to Putin and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Georgia said Putin's visit to the rebel region of Abkhazia was raising tension in the Caucasus.

"Unfortunately this is yet another challenge with regard not only to Georgia but with regard to entire international community that apparently shows that Russia completely neglects and ignores its international obligations. It is really a pity and it is once again demonstrates who is the main source of destabilization and tension in this region and not only in this region," said Alexander Nalbandov, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister.

The European Union last month criticised a visit by Medvedev to South Ossetia and said it supported Georgia's territorial integrity. The United States has called for Georgia's sovereignty to be respected.