Raul Khajimba: We had a war and we do not want it to be repeated; but we have the right to defend ourselves if necessary

Abkhazia continues to outline joint security with Russia and to create a small but mobile army, - Raul Khajimba, the de facto President of the occupied region of Abkhazia, said.

"Outlining joint security with Russia - this is our security guarantee. Relevant measures are now being taken for this - Russian-Abkhaz military exercises completed several days ago. This is necessary for the strengthening of the country's defense capabilities. We are also working on the issue of material-technical maintenance of the Abkhazian army and its armament," Khajimba said.

According to him, "the Abkhazian army should be small but operative and mobile."

When assked about the NATO exercises in Georgia, Khajimba said that "any state, even stronger ones, would be concerned about such exercises near its borders."

"We had a war and we do not want it to be repeated. We do not want our people and Georgians to go through these difficult processes again, but we have the right to defend ourselves if necessary," the de facto President said.