NATO Accelerates Integration Of Georgia
December 24, 2014
Leave a comment
Ministry of Defence of Georgia
December 24, 2014
Meeting with Defence Attaches
Deputy Defence Minister Levan Girsiashvili hosted military attaches accredited to Georgia.
Deputy Minister talked about the fulfilled reforms and the future priorities of the MoD. Partner countries’ engagement in the implementation process of Substantial Package Georgia received at NATO Summit in Wales was outlined at the meeting.
The meeting continued in interactive regimes. The diplomats also get information about future cooperation issues.
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Defence Minister expressed gratitude to the military attaches for cooperation.
December 24, 2014
Meeting with Defence Attaches
Deputy Defence Minister Levan Girsiashvili hosted military attaches accredited to Georgia.
Deputy Minister talked about the fulfilled reforms and the future priorities of the MoD. Partner countries’ engagement in the implementation process of Substantial Package Georgia received at NATO Summit in Wales was outlined at the meeting.
The meeting continued in interactive regimes. The diplomats also get information about future cooperation issues.
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Defence Minister expressed gratitude to the military attaches for cooperation.
Categories: Uncategorized
Georgian General Staff Delegation Visits U.S.
December 24, 2014
Leave a comment
Ministry of Defence of Georgia
December 24, 2014
Visit to USA
Delegation of General Staff of the GAF paid two day working visit to the USA. Chief of Staff USCENTCOM, Major General Michael X. Garrett hosted the representatives of the Georgian Armed Forces, led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Colonel Roman Jokhadze.
The sides discussed the details of ISAF and Resolute Support missions. The U.S. high military official expressed gratitude to Colonel Roman Jokhadze for Georgia’s contribution in the international missions. The sides also referred to the regional security issues.
Within the visit to the USA, the Georgian delegation held meeting with Head of J-5 Department of USCENTCOM, Major General Steven Basby as well. Joint trainings of Georgian and U.S. military servicemen and future cooperation plans were main topics at the meeting.
December 24, 2014
Visit to USA
Delegation of General Staff of the GAF paid two day working visit to the USA. Chief of Staff USCENTCOM, Major General Michael X. Garrett hosted the representatives of the Georgian Armed Forces, led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Colonel Roman Jokhadze.
The sides discussed the details of ISAF and Resolute Support missions. The U.S. high military official expressed gratitude to Colonel Roman Jokhadze for Georgia’s contribution in the international missions. The sides also referred to the regional security issues.
Within the visit to the USA, the Georgian delegation held meeting with Head of J-5 Department of USCENTCOM, Major General Steven Basby as well. Joint trainings of Georgian and U.S. military servicemen and future cooperation plans were main topics at the meeting.
Categories: Uncategorized
Saakashvili Mob Recruits Georgians For War In Ukraine
December 24, 2014
Leave a comment
Civil GeorgiaDecember 20, 2014
Georgian MoD Statement on Death of Georgian Volunteer Fighting for Ukraine
Tbilisi: The Georgian Ministry of Defense expressed condolences over death of a Georgian national in battle in eastern Ukraine and said in a statement that “representatives of former authorities” of Georgia are to be blamed for his death, because they are encouraging Georgians to fight in Ukraine.
32-year-old Alexandre Grigolashvili, who fought on the Ukrainian side in east of the country under nom de guerre “Chuzhoy”, was killed in the town of Shchastya in the Luhansk region on December 19.
“We want to stress that full responsibility for the death of Alexandre Grigolashvili lies with representatives of previous authorities, who are calling on the Georgian citizens to take part in military operations outside of our country. The Ministry of Defense has noted for more than once that such calls are irresponsible and aim at misleading active and former servicemen of the Georgian armed forces,” the Georgian MoD said in the statement on December 20.
“The Georgian Ministry of Defense calls on the citizens not to yield to provocation and not to endanger own lives in exchange of various offers,” it said.
The same statement reads that Alexandre Grigolashvili served in the Georgian armed forces in 2007-2008 and was discharged from the army in December, 2008, after contract with him was terminated.
Public service commemorating Grigolashvili, whose body is expected to be flown to Georgia either tonight or on Sunday, was held in the center of Kiev on Saturday with participation of Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, opposition UNM MP and vice-speaker of the Georgian Parliament Giorgi Baramidze, and Georgia’s ambassador to Ukraine Mikheil Ukleba.
Ex-president Saakashvili said earlier this month that many Georgian officers were willing to fight on the Ukrainian side in the east of the country; accusing the Georgian MoD of being pro-Russian, Saakashvili said that “many Georgian officers are left without other option but to go and continue service in friendly Ukraine, which fights the war against Georgia’s enemy.”
MoD responded in a statement on December 7 that Saakashvili’s allegations as if Georgian officers were willing to quit the Georgian army to continue service in Ukraine were “groundless” and “irresponsible propaganda, which has no justification and which is directed against own country and state institutions.” MoD said that those several Georgian citizens, who were fighting in Ukraine, were in the Georgian army years ago and were no longer active servicemen for a long time already.
Last week Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television channel ran a lengthy report from eastern Ukraine about Georgian volunteers fighting on the Ukrainian side. Three Georgians from the unit known as “Georgian National Legion” were interviewed, among them was Grigolashvili, who died on December 19.
Grigolashvili, a reconnaissance specialist, was with the Aidar battalion.
“Georgian National Legion is helping Ukrainians. Our task is to train them, to assist them in reconnaissance…It was our patriotic will to help Ukrainians in [fight] against invaders,” Grigolashvili told Rustavi 2 TV in the interview, which was recorded at the town of Shchastya.
Grigolashvili was also interviewed recently by the Ukrainian television channel, Inter, in which he says that he is with the Aidar battalion for “more than a month.” The interview was recorded when member of the Georgian lawmaker from the UNM opposition party, Giorgi Baramidze, vice-speaker of the Parliament, visited eastern Ukraine earlier this week; he visited Ukrainian forces’ positions at the frontline in the east of the country.
Number of Georgian volunteers fighting for Ukraine was not reported, but Rustavi 2 TV said in its report that Georgians were in various Ukrainian battalions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as in southern coastal town of Mariupol.
Why Georgia sends troops to Afghanistan
We have a shared interest in preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven
for extremists and terrorists who might target any of our states, writes
Mikheil Saakashvili.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Following President Obama’s compelling speech on our common mission in Afghanistan,
NATO members and other countries pledged about 7,000 additional troops for
this critical effort. My country, Georgia, committed just under 1,000 of that
total. As Secretary of State Clinton observed, this likely makes Georgia the highest
per-capita troop contributor to NATO’s operation in Afghanistan.
This is not easy for our small nation, with its population of just 4.7
million. Our economy, like those of other countries, has been buffeted by
the global economic downturn. Unlike most countries, we are struggling with
a recent invasion that ethnically cleansed tens of thousands of Georgian
citizens and an illegal occupation of 20% of Georgia’s sovereign territory.
Perhaps some might be astonished that a country not yet in NATO—and partly occupied
by more than 10,000 hostile troops—would make such a deep commitment to
an Allied mission abroad. Let me explain why, on the contrary, it makes
perfect sense.
As President Obama pointed out, the threat of violent extremism endangers all nations
that subscribe to the principles of liberal democracy, tolerance, gender equality,
and rule of law. Those principles made America the target on 9/11. Spain was
hit on March 11, 2004, and Britain on July 7, 2005. Any of our countries
could be next. So we have a shared interest in preventing Afghanistan from
again becoming a safe haven for extremists and terrorists who might target
any of our states.
Even though Georgia is not yet a NATO member—and while we know our path to membership
may
be long—we see ourselves as firmly allied in purpose and values with the U.S. and the transatlantic community. But this cannot just be rhetoric or an empty affiliation. Being part of such a community, even as a small country, we feel obliged and honored to contribute to our common security.
be long—we see ourselves as firmly allied in purpose and values with the U.S. and the transatlantic community. But this cannot just be rhetoric or an empty affiliation. Being part of such a community, even as a small country, we feel obliged and honored to contribute to our common security.
That is why we are sending serious forces—a heavy battalion and two light companies—and
we are committing them with no restrictions on the kinds of missions and
combat in which they can participate. Indeed, almost 800 will be deploying
with the U.S. Marines into Helmand Province, where some of the most intense
fighting has occurred.
Afghanistan and its region are now the central battle for the transatlantic community, and we will do everything possible to help. In addition to the nearly 1,000 troops we committed last week, we are making contributions in other ways.
For example, the U.S. and NATO have already started using Georgian ports, rail lines, and roads to transport non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan. American military experts have concluded this is a safe, reliable, and cost-saving transit route, and we stand ready to expand its use—particularly as the US and NATO work to speed the arrival of new troops and equipment.
As President Obama so eloquently expressed, the fight against extremism and terrorism cannot be won by military means alone; education, democratization, and institution building are equally, if not more important. Here, too, Georgians have something to contribute, given our recent experience in democracy building.
Less than a decade ago, Georgia was considered by many to be a failing state. But with the support of our friends in the West, and driven by our shared values, we were able to make dramatic changes. As a young democracy, we continue working to open our politics, judiciary, media, and other major institutions. We now include the opposition in meetings of our national security council. We have given opposition- controlled media stations nationwide broadcast licenses. In May, we will hold our first direct elections for mayor in our capital, Tbilisi, after multiple rounds of dialogue with the opposition that bolstered confidence in the electoral process. And we continue to make dramatic gains against corruption and toward an open business environment.
Over the past five years, Georgia was the most successful country in the world in terms of fighting corruption, according to Transparency International, and Europe’s top economic reformer, according to the World Bank.
Our experience gives us confidence that success is possible on the political and civil fronts in Afghanistan, and Georgia will do everything possible to help strength Afghanistan’s institutions. Six years ago, less than 10% of Georgian citizens trusted the police; today, more than 70% do. Our reform know-how could help in training Afghanistan’s police forces and other civil servants, an effort that is crucial to achieving long-term stability and a more transparent government.
The test of the bonds among nations is not what we do when it is easy, but rather what we do when it is necessary and hard. Georgia has been grateful for the extent to which the United States and Europe have stood alongside us over recent years.
Now we are proud to stand - and fight - alongside you.
Afghanistan and its region are now the central battle for the transatlantic community, and we will do everything possible to help. In addition to the nearly 1,000 troops we committed last week, we are making contributions in other ways.
For example, the U.S. and NATO have already started using Georgian ports, rail lines, and roads to transport non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan. American military experts have concluded this is a safe, reliable, and cost-saving transit route, and we stand ready to expand its use—particularly as the US and NATO work to speed the arrival of new troops and equipment.
As President Obama so eloquently expressed, the fight against extremism and terrorism cannot be won by military means alone; education, democratization, and institution building are equally, if not more important. Here, too, Georgians have something to contribute, given our recent experience in democracy building.
Less than a decade ago, Georgia was considered by many to be a failing state. But with the support of our friends in the West, and driven by our shared values, we were able to make dramatic changes. As a young democracy, we continue working to open our politics, judiciary, media, and other major institutions. We now include the opposition in meetings of our national security council. We have given opposition- controlled media stations nationwide broadcast licenses. In May, we will hold our first direct elections for mayor in our capital, Tbilisi, after multiple rounds of dialogue with the opposition that bolstered confidence in the electoral process. And we continue to make dramatic gains against corruption and toward an open business environment.
Over the past five years, Georgia was the most successful country in the world in terms of fighting corruption, according to Transparency International, and Europe’s top economic reformer, according to the World Bank.
Our experience gives us confidence that success is possible on the political and civil fronts in Afghanistan, and Georgia will do everything possible to help strength Afghanistan’s institutions. Six years ago, less than 10% of Georgian citizens trusted the police; today, more than 70% do. Our reform know-how could help in training Afghanistan’s police forces and other civil servants, an effort that is crucial to achieving long-term stability and a more transparent government.
The test of the bonds among nations is not what we do when it is easy, but rather what we do when it is necessary and hard. Georgia has been grateful for the extent to which the United States and Europe have stood alongside us over recent years.
Now we are proud to stand - and fight - alongside you.