South Ossetian has reaffirmed its interest in forging military ties with the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. \"Last year, Abkhazia and South Ossetia agreed on staging joint anti-terrorist exercises and these plans are still valid,\" South Ossetian Prime Minister Gerasim Khugayev told Interfax. The two unrecognized republics \"need allies to protect\" their territories, Khugayev noted. \"The state entities similar to South Ossetia, namely Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdnestria, are the most reliable allies,\" he said. \"The unrecognized republics principally maintain socioeconomic ties. If a military need arises, appropriate support will be extended,\" he said. South Ossetia is about to wrap up the establishment of its professional army, which includes 6,000 servicemen. (Gazeta.ru)