Tatarstan ready to help Abkhazia develop tourist infrastructure - Tatarstan head

SUKHUM. Dec 5 (Interfax) - Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov, who arrived in Abkhazia on Sunday, has offered to share experience of tourist site development.

"Abkhazia should be attractive to tourists, because it has everything it needs so that people come here to rest and improve their health. I have offered Abkhazia to use our experience. We are developing public space very actively, are building and renovating tourist sites, and are borrowing the best international practices," Minnikhanov told reporters.

Climate and nature of Abkhazia are very good for tourism, however, the Abkhaz territory needs "comprehensive and correct development," he said.

Tatarstan may share its experience and is ready to supply a large amount of products that could be in demand in Abkhazia, Minnikhanov said.

Minnikhanov and Abkhaz President Aslan Bzhania visited sites in the Gagra and Gulripsh districts that might be of interest to investors.

"We very much want to maintain active presence here. I would also like Abkhaz business to be present in Russia via our republic," Minnikhanov said.

Bzhania thanked Tatarstan for helping Abkhazia during the war with Georgia in 1992-1993 and in the later period. "The friendly relations, which emerged between the heads of our republics, Vladislav Ardzinba and Mintimer Shaimiyev, at that time are continuing. We will seek to fill our interaction with the humanitarian and economic content," Bzhania said.