From correspondents in Moscow, Russia, 02:00 AM IST

Russia Wednesday signed cooperation pacts with Georgian breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

'The treaties stipulate that our countries shall be taking joint measures to eliminate the threat to peace, address problems of security and resist acts of aggression,' the report quoted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as saying at the Kremlin after the signing ceremony.

Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia 'will give each other all necessary support, including military', according to the report.

Moscow last month recognised the two Georgian breakaway regions as independent states, following a five-day war with Georgia.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia unilaterally declared independence from Georgia after the break up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)