Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: 

Sergei Bagapsh: Distinguished guests, Vladimir Vladimirovich and everyone,

Allow me to welcome you to our country on behalf of the Abkhazian people and government. Your visit is very important and remarkable for Abkhazians due to the circumstances we all are aware of. There is a historical affinity between our two peoples. We are close neighbours who have always stayed together in joy and in grief. Russia has been providing invaluable assistance and support to our country.

Mr Putin, I would like to extend my gratitude for the considerable effort you have put forth both as the president and as the prime minister. I am referring to efforts to put an end to this country's economic isolation and to essentially improve the living conditions of the people affected by the blockade.

Russia's recognition of the independence of the Republic of Abkhazia last year obviously became a milestone in our centuries-old relations. This decision by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Russia's Government, a challenging move in every respect, but the only sound one, has crowned the 100 year old struggle of the Abkhazian people for the restoration of independence. We are grateful to the great Russian nation for this.

Remarkably, your visit has been timed to coincide with the anniversary of this historic event. Abkhazians always remember the respect, trust and generous attitude with which they have been treated.

Distinguished guests and friends,

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is being accompanied by Russian Cabinet members. We have always interacted with them, but after Russia and Abkhazia signed the Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Aid Treaty, the interaction became more consistent, systemic and effective.

As you know, an important intergovernmental agreement will be signed today, which will expand the Treaty. In addition, Russian and Abkhazian experts are working on draft agreements on a range of areas for mutually beneficial cooperation. Mr Prime Minister, given their relevancy, we hope that the preparation of the agreements and their subsequent implementation will be expedited.

I would like to assure you that the Republic of Abkhazia will continue to implement its commitments on all agreements.

I would like to repeat that we are happy to welcome you, the members of this high-ranking delegation headed by Prime Minister Putin. Also, I would like to wish you, and all of us and all Russians everywhere, well-being and great success. Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you, President Bagapsh, colleagues and friends.

First of all, I would like to thank you, Mr Bagapsh, for the invitation. I would like to once again stress that Russia has been with the people of Abkhazia, supporting and backing it for many years, since the beginning of the 1990s. Those were challenging and turbulent times for the multinational people of Abkhazia. But this past year the situation changed drastically, due to the recognition of Abkhazia's independence.

This status allows us to develop cooperation in a new, different manner, which is why such a representative delegation has arrived here in Abkhazia. I would like to introduce the Russian delegation: Minister of Regional Development, Viktor Basargin, Minister of Transport, Igor Levitin, Minister of Defence, Anatoly Serdyukov, Minister of Communications and Mass Media, Igor Shchyogolev, Deputy Head of the Government Executive Office, Yury Ushakov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory, Alexander Tkachyov, who is sitting next to you and whom you know well. The head of the Federal Agency for the Development of the State Border Infrastructure, Dmitry Bezdelov, Deputy Healthcare and Social Development Minister, Vladimir Belov, Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin, Chargé d'Affaires in Abkhazia, Vladimir Bogolyubov, Board Chairman of the Sistema corporation, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, President of VAO Intourist, Alexander Arutyunov, Executive Director and President of Rosneft, Sergei Bogdanchikov, and Vice President of Russian Railways, Vladimir Vorobyov.

I have purposely brought these officials and businessmen to Abkhazia. Russia and Abkhazia have been either interacting or planning large joint projects in all the areas that my colleagues, members of the Russian delegation, represent.

We all know quite well that since 2003 Russia has been providing assistance to Russian citizens who live in Abkhazia, paying pensions and several other allowances. I understand perfectly well that this assistance is only a response to the heritage of the past. Our main goal is creating a self-sustained economic system in Abkhazia. Abkhazia has every opportunity to develop this, which is something we have repeatedly highlighted during our talks, including our meetings in Russia. Today we are having a meeting in the hospitable land of Abkhazia to discuss all the opportunities for cooperation.

Once again, thank you for the invitation.