MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Chirikba believes that close security relations between his tiny newly-independent country on the Black Sea and Russia are a pre-requisite of its security and stability.

Chirikba told a news conference in Moscow on Thursday Abkhazia is alarmed by Georgia’s involvement in NATO exercises.

"The fact that Georgian military are involved in NATO’s operations is a direct challenge to the security of both Abkhazia and Russia," he said. "Georgian forces participate in NATO’s operations in other countries - in Iran and other countries. There are plans for opening NATO’s training camps in Georgia. This cannot but cause our alarm."