The presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will on Saturday start official visits to Nicaragua and Venezuela - two of the four countries that have recognized the former Georgian republics' independence.
Sergei Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoity plan to conclude friendship and cooperation agreements with the countries. Bagapsh will head to Nicaragua this night from the southern Russian resort of Sochi, and Kokoity in the morning from Moscow.
Abkhazian Prime Minister Sergei Shamba told RIA Novosti that the two presidents have different agendas despite the fact that they fly to the same places.
"This is the first friendly top-level visit. The delegation consists both of government officials and Abkhazian businessmen. A number of documents will be signed in both countries," Shamba said Thursday.
The documents to be signed include an agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, as well as trade cooperation and trade navigation deals and a visa-free travel agreement.
"Besides this, business deals will be discussed," Shamba said. "We hope they will be signed there."
Abkhazia's foreign and economy ministers, Maxim Gvindzhia and Kristina Ozgan, will accompany Bagapsh on the trip. Bagapsh will stay in Nicaragua until July 21.
Nicaragua was the second country to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent after the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia. Russia recognized the two former Georgian republics shortly after the conflict, which began when Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also recognized the republics in September 2009, as did the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru in December last year.
Bagapsh will take part in celebrations dedicated to the 31st anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, which will take place on July 19. The revolution ousted dictator Anastasio Somoza and brought Daniel Ortega to power. Ortega served as president in 1985-1990, after the revolutionary junta was dissolved, and after three electoral defeats was elected again in 2006.
South Ossetian President Kokoity is also to take part in the celebrations in Nicaragua.
South Ossetia's ambassador to Russia, Dmitry Medoyev, said South Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Dzhioyev and state counselor Konstantin Kochiyev will accompany Kokoity on the visit.
In Nicaragua, the South Ossetian delegation will also hold talks with the country's authorities, during which several agreements are expected to be signed, Medoyev said.
The delegation will then fly to the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, for talks with President Hugo Chavez and other Venezuelan officials, he said. The talks are also expected to see the signing of several deals.
Both Abkhazian and South Ossetian presidents are due to leave Latin America on July 23.
MOSCOW/SUKHUMI/MANAGUA, July 17 (RIA Novosti)
