DECEMBER 2007 ISSUE #6

National Guard’s Day Recruitment for V Infantry

National Guard of Georgia
celebrated its 17th anniversary on
January 20. A solemn ceremony
to mark this day was held at the
National Guard Department. The
Minister of Defence of Georgia
David Kezerashvili, the First
Deputy Defence Minister Batu
Kutelia, Chief of the Joint Staff
of the Georgian Armed Forces
Col. Zaza Gogava, his deputies
LTC Grigol Tatishvili and LTC
Aleksandre Osepaishvili and the
leadership of the Ministry of De-
fence attended the ceremony ded-
icated to the National Guards’
17th anniversary.
During the event, the De-
fence Minister gave monetary
grants to the family members of
guardsmen who made the su-
preme sacrifice for the territo-
rial integrity of the country as
well as the persons who were
injured in combat operations.
Col Zaza Gogava granted the
souvenirs to five NG servants
for meritorious service. LTC
Aleksandre Osepaishvili hand-
ed over honorary diplomas to
the servants of 10th Brigade.
The Minister of Defence of
Georgia David Kezerashvili and
Chief of the Joint Staff of the
Georgian Armed Forces, con-
gratulated the National Guard
staff and laid the wreath at the
Forces. We started new reserv-
ist training program this year. It
is highly relevant to stimulate
close relations between society
and militaries. Our population
should feel what the life of a
soldier means. I would like to
congratulate the reservists who
underwent our reserve training
program first. They are really
the best generation,” stated Col.
Zaza Gogava.
Georgian National Guard
was established on December
20, 1990 and was the first Geor-
gian armed formation.
In the nineties, the National
Guard was the core power of the
Georgian Armed Forces during
the combats held for integrity of
Georgia and more than 600
guards-men sacrificed their own
lives for the unity and freedom
of their homeland.
Before 2000, the National
Guard included only combat
and training subunits, though
based on the NATO EURO-
COM recommendations new
role and functions were defined
for the National Guard and rel-
evant structural changes were
carried out.
Coming out from the mili-
tary doctrine of Georgia of 2004
-2006 years, the main missions
of National Guard are: support
civil government in crisis situ-
ations; manage mobilization re-
courses; convene, select and
man citizens for the army units.
Another priority of the depart-
ment is management of reserve
and mobilization system. With
the help of the National Guard’s
instructors reservists are trained
in four training bases.
Future plans of National
Guard are to improve training
level of the reservists and train-
ing of each battalion located in
the regions in order to conduct
search-rescue operations during
emergency.
Nino Rusadze
Brigade Underway
A new, V Infantry Brigade
will be added to the Georgian
Armed Forces in the nearest fu-
ture. Recruitment and manning
process of a new Infantry Bri-
gade is in an active phase. V In-
fantry Brigade will be stationed
in Khoni and if we take into con-
sideration the geographical loca-
tion of the base it won’t be a sur-
prise that most of the volunteers
who apply for registration come
from the regions of western
Georgia.
Major Zurab Agladze has
been appointed as the Com-
mander of V Infantry Brigade.
Upon graduation of the Nation-
al Defence Academy, Maj. Ag-
ladze started his successful mil-
itary career at Kojori Special
Forces Unit in 1998 where he
served as a Battalion Command-
er and then Chief of Staff of the
Special Forces Brigade. He re-
ceived higher military education
in the United States of America.
For a certain period of time he
served in Iraq as a senior mili-
tary representative of Georgia in
Coalition Forces in Iraq.
We met with Maj. Agladze
PR Campaign for Recruitment
Command Post
Training
and talked about the new brigade.
“V Infantry Brigade is in the
process of establishment and I’d
say we are focusing not on the
quantity but on the quality. The
whole Brigade will be certified
and maximally close to NATO
standards. Before the infrastruc-
ture of the Brigade is complete-
ly arranged, its military person-
nel will be temporarily based in
Batumi Military Base. The num-
ber of the military personnel will
be identical to other Infantry Bri-
gades: 3100 servicemen. Our
main function will be the protec-
tion of the territory of Georgia
and we’ll fulfill any task as-
signed to us.
Training of V Infantry Bri-
gade has started in December.
700 military servicemen will
undergo trainings in Saguramo
Communication Base and Krtsa-
nisi National Training Center
where they will acquire the mil-
itary specialties of machine gun-
ners, grenade gunners, artillery-
men, signalers and combat en-
gineers. The training course will
last for three months. After the
completion of the course the ser-
INSIDE
Chaplains’
Delegation of U.S.
European Command
vicemen will return to their place
of dislocation, Batumi.
The position of a Brigade
Commander is a very responsi-
ble assignment. Once I had the
experience of commanding a
Brigade when I was a Deputy
Commander of II Infantry Bri-
gade. I won’t have to carry out
experiments. I know from where
to start and I know what I can
achieve.
As I’ve already told you con-
struction of a military base has
already started. The only thing
we are short of is time. The lo-
gistic provision is at a high level
and it is very important at this
stage. I want to state that the V
Infantry Brigade will be combat
capable and one of the best.”
In November, Public Affairs
Department of the Ministry of
Defence of Georgia organized a
PR campaign. The purpose of the
PR action that lasted for a week
was to inform the population of
Georgia about the V Infantry
Brigade and invite young citi-
zens to join the Army.
Mindia Arabuli

Germany Granted Pre-New Year

memorial tablet of National
Guard members who made the
supreme sacrifice for the terri-
torial integrity of the country in
Samachablo and Abkhazia.
Medical Equipment Official Reception
“On this day, I would like to
congratulate the National Guard
Department, Armed Forces of Presentation Defence Ministry
Georgia and our country. Let all
and IOM Launch a
these celebrations be the pre-
condition for strength, success about Georgia New Project
and progress of our Armed Defence Minister Giving Monetary Grant
2 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
Command Post Training
The 1st Infantry Brigade of the Geor-
gian Armed Forces is preparing to leave
for Iraq. Pre-deployment trainings have
been held at Krtsanisi National Train-
ing Center. The Command Post Train-
ing was designated for the staffs of those
battalions that are going to depart for
Iraq to participate in peacekeeping op-
erations in Wasit province. The Staff and
Command Computer Training was held
with the assistance of American offic-
ers. The trainings were attended by the
representatives of the III Division of
Multinational Corps - Iraq. The CPX
lasted during a week from December 8
till December 14.
The aim of the training for the Bri-
gade Staff was to create the real picture
of the tasks they are going to implement
in Wasit province. The most important
was to define how they manage to
achieve the maximal success with the
minimal resources. “I think the walkway
after this exercise will be better under-
standing what exactly their mission is
in Iraq and what kind of problems they
will see and situations they will have to
deal with and will have better under-
standing of the overall Wasit province
where the Brigade is deploying. This
exercise is for better understandings of
logistical requirements, personal re-
quirements, communications and oper-
ations. We have designed this exercise
based on exactly what they will be do-
ing. So I think this is an excellent train-
ing opportunity for the 1st Georgian Bri-
gade,” stated Major David Williams, 3rd
Infantry Division HQs, G3 Plans in
Baghdad, Iraq.
The computer training consisted of
those tasks that the Georgian peacekeep-
ers will have to carry out in Iraq in real
Germany Granted Medical Equipment
The Ministry of Defence of the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany transferred
medical equipment as a grant to the
Ministry of Defence of Georgia. Assis-
tance was implemented within the
framework of bilateral cooperation plan
between Georgia and Germany.
Various medical equipment in the
total amount of 36 tons will be deliv-
ered to Gori Military Hospital and to
various units of the Georgian Armed
Forces. Medical assistance contains dif-
ferent types of medical facilities: respi-
ratory and x-ray devices, dental and sur-
gical equipment and various tools for
using in the field conditions that cost a
total of ˆ240,000.
Director of Gori Hospital Nikoloz
Sainishvili commented regarding the
transfer of medical equipment: “Medi-
situations. According to the simulated
scenario, the brigade command received
operational orders from the Commands
of the American Division according to
which they have passed through all stag-
es of decision making. Firstly, the units
occupied the territory and started fulfill-
ing the peacekeeping operation. “Basi-
cally, this is like a simulation, this is a
game, but this is a real thing. When they
go to Iraq they are going to carry out
basically the same things, the same kind
of exercises but it’s going to be real war;
it’s going to be real things. This is a game
but they take this seriously because they
know what’s going to be in the future in
Iraq. This simple training is just to train
soldiers and every soldier to realize
when they go to the war what kind of
challenges they are going to face,” stat-
ed Specialist George Darguashvili –
Georgian Brigade LNO.
The 1st Brigade Commander LTC
Roin Vacharidze was satisfied with the
training results: “At this stage we are
implementing a simulated exercise. This
means that in accordance with the tasks
the computer implements real activities
in real time. It creates the full picture of
the subdivision’s activities. This is very
good as the decision making and its im-
plementing process undergoes in reali-
ty. All defects and nuances appear dur-
ing the exercise will demonstrate our
weak sides which will be improved in
practicing. This will give us an oppor-
tunity to avoid mistakes in real combat.
The coordination issue is also very im-
portant as we have to cooperate with
American officers.”
The representative of the American
side, Major Williams, evaluated the ex-
ercise as well: “This one is most realis-
cal aid is very important for the Mili-
tary Hospital. Similar activities help to
deepen cooperation between our coun-
tries in defence sphere.”
Georgia and Germany have been
closely cooperating in defence sphere.
Military Attache of the Federal Repub-
lic of Germany to Georgia, LTC Chris-
tian Farkhondeh talks about military
cooperation between the two partner
countries: “In 2008 transfer of 25 mil-
itary ambulance vehicles and addition-
al equipment for NCO School is planed.
In Germany’s and Georgia’s military-
political and military relations I would
like to emphasize successful coopera-
tion in the development of Georgia’s
NCO School. It can be said that Geor-
gia’s NCO Training School is somehow
a lighthouse in mutual military coop-
tic than we held in June because we have
six-month experience behind us and re-
ally we improve quality the third time.”
Rotation of military servicemen in
Iraq is implemented on a stage by stage
basis and it will end by January 15 when
the 1st Infantry Brigade will replace the
3rd Infantry Brigade serving in Wasit
Province for a six-month period. At this
stage, the Brigade has already sent the
group which is participating in the op-
erations planning and carrying out re-
connaissance with the 3rd Brigade. The
1st Brigade has also sent the civil-mili-
tary relations group – the Cimic Group,
which is holding meetings with Sheiks
and is establishing relationship with the
local population. Soon a group of 100
servicemen will be sent to Iraq and they
will be deployed on the check-points and
learn the local environment, customs
and habits. For the middle of January
the 1st Brigade will be deployed first to
Kuwait in order to undergo additional
trainings and then to Wasit Province. At
the end of January, the 1st Infantry Bri-
gade will start implementation of the
complete spectrum of peace support
operations.
The Command Post Exercise was
also attended by the U.S. Brigadier-Gen-
eral Edward Cardon.
We asked him to share his opinion
on the Georgian Army, CPX, and Geor-
gia’s participation in peacekeeping op-
eration in Iraq. Below you can read a
brief interview with General Cardon.
What was the purpose of your vis-
it to Georgia?
The purpose of my visit here today
is to look at the 1st Georgian Brigade
which is going to replace the 3rd Geor-
Command Post Training
Medical Equipment Arrived
Brigadier-General Edward Cardon
gian Brigade currently working in Wa-
sit province as part of our division.
What can you say about the impor-
tance of the training and what does
this exercise envision?
The training is the most important
part of the whole preparation, sometimes
people get overly focused on the equip-
ment but the training is the most impor-
tant. So it is good to come up here and
see how the training is going through;
what is going on actually on the ground
like in Wasit province. I am very pleased
with what I am seeing.
How do you evaluate the prepared-
ness of the Georgian peacekeepers
and their participation in peacekeep-
ing operation in Iraq? How are they
fulfilling their mission?
You know I had Georgian soldiers
work with me before my last tour in
Baghdad and I’ve always been im-
pressed by them. The thing what I’ve
particularly enjoyed about this visit is
the willingness to learn and the adap-
tiveness that Georgian leaders and sol-
diers are showing. I think that it is most
critical because everything changes all
the time in Iraq. So the ability to change
is important and I’m very pleased with
what I’m seeing. They are doing their
job well.
U.S. and Georgia are actively co-
operating in military sphere. What
can you say about this partner rela-
tionship?
DECEMBER 2007 ISSUE #6
We most appreciate about the Geor-
gian partnership that we have right now
in Wasit province is that the Georgian
brigade came to us without any nation-
al caveats just like one of our own bri-
gades and that is the way we treat them.
Especially compared to other partner
countries come, they come all the time
with kind of requests - “ I can do this; I
can’t do that because of my national
government…” and what makes the
relation here special is that Georgia
comes as a full partner.
Today the Georgian government’s
priority is to strengthen the Georgian
Armed Forces. What recommenda-
tions can you provide in this regard?
Clearly the activities with the 3rd
Georgian Brigade in Wasit province is
to improve combat readiness of this bri-
gade because they are in combat ap-
pointment. So there are two brigades
that’ll be a lot better just like our bri-
gades they will go through training; they
go through combat and when they come
back they are so much better trained and
confident.
How do you like Georgia?
I love Georgia. I am happy to have
opportunity to come here. I made a lot
of Georgian friends here over my two
tours here. I think I’d like to have op-
portunity to come back.
Tea Kerdzevadze
David Jokhadze
eration. In 2007, the partnership exist-
ing between the above-mentioned
school and the Infantry Training School
of Germany’s Armed Forces has strong-
ly deepened. Relations in military ed-
ucation have also increased. 1900
members of Georgia’s Armed Forces
have received an education in Germa-
ny. During 2007, in the framework of
bilateral programs, 29 events were suc-
cessfully implemented, which focused
on Logistics, Military Medical Service
and Education. The previous year made
it clear that military-political and mili-
tary relations between Georgia and
Germany are based on stabile and reli-
able relations and in 2008 there is a plan
to grow these relations.”
Nino Gogochishvili
DECEMBER 2007 ISSUE #6
Presentation about Georgia
Georgian LTC Zaza Golodze, a stu-
dent of the Military Academy of
Bundeswehr held a presentation about
Georgia on December 13.
The students’ contingent of the acad-
emy is multinational and such events
aim to draw attention to the culture, cus-
toms and current situation of different
countries. This year the honor to hold
the presentation was given to Georgia.
The presentation about Georgia lasted
for 3 hours and consisted of two parts.
The first part of the presentation spoke
of the history and culture of Georgia, and
the second part was about the Georgian
Armed Forces and on-going reforms in
this sphere. These kinds of presentations
are held once a year.
Admiral Hubertus von Puttkamer
met with Chief of J-1, Major-General
Givi Revazishvili, and Military Attache
of Georgia in Germany Major Giga
Babunashvili. The parties discussed mil-
itary relations, future plans and further
cooperation between countries.
At the end of the day, a Georgian re-
ception was held in the Bundeswehr
Military Academy, where the guests tast-
In Bundeswehr Military Academy
Defence Ministry and IOM Launch a New Project
The First Deputy Defence Minister
Batu Kutelia officially announced the
launch of a new project - “Reintegra-
tion Assistance to the Redundant Per-
sonnel of the Ministries of Defence, In-
terior and Justice.” Mr. Batu Kutelia,
Ambassador of Poland to Georgia, H.E.
Jacek Multanowski and Chief of IOM
(International Organization for Migra-
tion) Mission Mary Sheehan presented
the project to the public at the joint
press conference held at Tbilisi Marri-
ot Hotel.
In cooperation with the Defence
Ministry and with the help of the Gov-
ernment of Poland’s funding mecha-
nism, PolishAid, International Organi-
zation for Migration is implementing a
project “Reintegration Assistance to the
Redundant Personnel of the Ministries
of Defence, Interior and Justice.”
The goal of the project is to assist
the former employees of the Ministry of
Defence who lost their jobs since 2005
in finding employment, re-training and
business startup.
Redundant officers who will receive
assistance from International Organiza-
tion for Migration must have clean mil-
itary service record and be between 30
and 53 years old. Specific assistance
includes assistance to identify finding
suitable employment, re-training as well
as business consultations and grants for
ed Georgian wine and national cuisine.
We asked for an interview Deputy
Rector of Bundeswehr Academy, Direc-
tor of Courses, Admiral Hubertus von
Puttkamer.
Did you learn anything new about
Georgia after this presentation?
I didn’t know Georgia well before
today. This was the first time when I’ve
got so much information about Georgia;
The presentation was diverse, attractive
and enjoyable.”
How often does such kind of event
take place at Bundeswehr Military
Academy and what is its purpose ?
The academy of Bundeswehr is like
a little UN. According to the tradition,
representatives from various countries
introduce their homeland with the help
of brief presentations, but it is an excep-
tion to hold informational days as you
did. We gave the opportunity to your
representative to deliver a comprehen-
sive presentation about Georgia. We did
not know Georgia well and it was for
the first time that we were informed
about it in details.
Many officers have already got and
business start ups and development.
Press conference was opened by the
First Deputy Defence Minister Batu
Kutelia: “Ministry of Defence of Geor-
gia realizes the necessity of reintegra-
tion of the redundant military person-
nel of the Georgian Armed Forces. This
is one of the most important principles
of Human Resource Management pol-
icy of the Georgian Armed Forces. We
realize the existing problem in our
country related to employment of our
citizens. With the assistance of the Pol-
ish Government and International Or-
ganization for Migration, we are imple-
menting a pilot project that envisages
employment, re-training and financing
of business proposals for them. Imple-
mentation of the project started in 2007
and we employed a considerable num-
ber of redundant personnel. Our goal
is to expand this project to other regions
as well. For this purpose we are creat-
ing a standing center for employment
and reintegration of military personnel
at the Defence Ministry.”
Plenipotentiary and extraordinary
ambassador of Polland to Georgia H.E
Jacek Multanowski explained the de-
tails of the project as well: “The assis-
tance program we present today is im-
plemented with the support of the Pol-
ish Government and IOM. In contem-
porary world the government pays great
still get the Military education in Ger-
many, in the framework of German
Assistance program. How do you eval-
uate the German assistance program
and what is the purpose?
We think that Officers acquaint with
German culture and western Democra-
cy, so they acquaint with the Armed forc-
es in Democracy. It’s a international
chain, because on this courses 35 coun-
tries like Georgia, China, Brazil, Africa
and etc. are presented annually and each
of them are able to make an Informa-
tion day about their countries. Some of
the representatives are able to make a
big presentation about its country like
Georgia did today.
What are the characteristic fea-
tures the Georgian students are dis-
tinguished with?
It’s a hard question. Every nation has
a special characteristic feature; I have
been surprised many times how close
Georgia is approaching Europe. Here I
remember the legend of the Golden
Fleece which we studied at school. For
me it’s important that Georgia with its
Christian traditions is very close to Eu-
Presentation of a New Project
attention to development process. Pol-
ish government actively cooperates
with IOM and supports neighboring
countries. I mean Belarus, Moldova,
Ukraine and Georgia. Polish Parliament
has allocated 35 Million USD on fund-
ing the similar kinds of projects for
2007. This gave an opportunity to our
country to broaden the assistance area
for development of institutions like
building democracy, rule of law, and
human rights protection. Launching the
MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
Admiral Hubertus von Puttkamer
rope. Moreover, you are located nest to
the country, I mean Russia, which is
more Asian than European.
Can you shortly tell us the History
of Bundeswehr Military Academy?
The Roots of Bundeswehr Academy
goes to that times when the Germany
was fighting against France. Major-Gen-
eral Karl von Klauzewitz (1780-1831)
is an example. In 1809 the Prussian Gen-
eral Sharnhorst has invited Klauzevitz
to his personal staff, after Klauzewits
was discharge from Napoleon War and
then from his prison. In 1810 General
Sharnhorst established the „Academy of
War“, where the high level officers
where retrained. These generals were the
first Prussian reformers, who made the
reformations of land forces and devel-
oped the general staff. They developed
the structural logic and those philosoph-
ical bases that the war can have.
Today one part of the barracks is
called after the Klauzewitz Barrack. This
Polish Government’s assistance pro-
gram, Georgia became prior country.
We fully realize Georgia’s economic
and political situation as well as Geor-
gia’s role in regional stability, which
also means the stability in Europe.
Therefore Polish government will as-
sist Georgia in order to foster its trans-
formation and development. Imple-
menting this program, Georgia will ap-
proach NATO and EU standards“.
Chief of International Organization
3
academy was established since the cre-
ation of the General staff and Prussian
Land forces. In end of 19th century Prus-
sian War Academy was called the Prus-
sian Naval Academy.
„The Academy of War“ had been
changed during the centuries and after
the First World War is was closed. Ac-
cording to the Versailles Treaty it had
no permission to give education to the
officers. 1935, when Vermacht was pre-
paring for war, they opened „ the Acad-
emy of War“. At the end of the World
War II it was finally closed.
In 1957 this academy was reopened.
This is the oldest and the only Prussian
Army institution, and till nowadays it
serves the same educational purpose it
did 200 years ago. Since 1962 Bundes-
wehr Military Academy offers educa-
tional opportunities to officers of non
NATO member countries.
David Jokhadze
for Migration Mission Mary Sheehan
talked about the program goals: “This
is the program which serves to the Re-
integration Assistance to the Redundant
Personnel of the Ministries of Defence,
Interior and Justice. We are completing
the initial phase of the program. New
employment center will be established
within the framework of the project that
will serve the redundant military ser-
vicemen. The second important element
is the database that includes information
about training-retraining programs as
well as vacancies. Database will be con-
stantly updated. We will also take into
consideration the market demand. La-
bor market survey will be conducted and
developed, as demanded areas will be
identified. Defence Ministry is actively
cooperating with our organization. The
database already exists and we already
have employed personnel. In the near-
est future we’ll open the same kind of
center in Kutaisi and it will serve the
population of Western Georgia. The
same kind of project will be implement-
ed for the redundant personnel of the
Ministries of Interior and Justice. I want
to address each citizen who has decided
to visit our center that we are going to
develop individual programs for them
and we’ll do our best to help them.”
Khatia Kurashvili
4 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
Chaplains’ Delegation of
U.S. European Command
Delegation of Chaplains from the
United States European Command
paid a four-day working visit to Geor-
gia.
The purpose of the visit was the es-
tablishment of the army chaplain insti-
tute in the Armed Forces of Georgia.
Delegation members held meetings
with the officials of the Joint Staff of
Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Hosts Chaplains’ Delegation
the Georgian Armed Forces.
In the framework of the visit they
were hosted by His Holiness and Beati-
tude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Geor-
gia, Ilia II.
“I really appreciate your spiritual
endeavors. I consider that the institute
of chaplain will greatly assist the spiri-
tual development of the Georgian ser-
Presentation of a New
Human Resources
Management System
The process of establishment of a
new, NATO interoperable, modern
standard civil personnel management
electronic system (VCM) has started at
the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.
VCM system was developed in active
cooperation and exchange of consulta-
tions with the representatives of the
Kingdom of Netherlands.
Human Resource Management De-
partment presented a new Human Re-
sources Management (HRM) system to
the heads of various structural units of
the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.
VCM system provides a mechanism
for effective management of human re-
sources based on competences of per-
vicemen,” noted Catholicos-Patriarch of
Georgia Ilia II.
The meeting with the Patriarch was
attended by the Deputy Chief of the Joint
Staff of Georgian Armed Forces LTC
Giga Tatishvili and Chief of Education-
al Department of the Joint Staff Brig.-
Gen. Soso Kutateladze.
By the end of the meeting, Ilia II
granted crosses and compact discs of
Georgian church chorals to the delega-
tion members.
Chaplains’ Delegation of the U.S.
European Command also visited the
burial place of St. Nino, Bodbe, Sigh-
naghi and Mtskheta.
Shalva Londaridze
sonnel, also, career management and
planning process. Competence of each
person includes natural characteristic
features, individuality, skills, knowl-
edge, experience and behavior. Com-
petence management implies rational
exploitation of these qualities to the
maximum possible degree.
Establishment of VCM system at the
Defence Ministry will improve the
quality of work performed by the ci-
vilian personnel and will provide the
effective human resources manage-
ment. VCM system was created by
VIPD Company. (www.vipd.nl)
Khatia Kurashvili
DECEMBER 2007 ISSUE #6
Pre-New Year Official Reception
The Pre-New Year official reception
was held in the restaurant “Metekhi’s
Chrdili” on behalf of the Defence Minis-
ter David Kezerashvili.
The official event was attended by the
representatives of diplomatic corps, mil-
itary attaches, NGOs, journalists and ex-
perts. The evening was musically accom-
panied by the Military Orchestra of the
Ministry of Defence. The presentation
regarding the implemented reforms and
achieved successes for 2007 was present-
ed for evening guests as well. The First
Deputy Defence Minister Batu Kutelia
opened the official reception and ad-
dressed the invited guests:
“We could not achieve success with-
out the active participation of these peo- Defence Minister Welcomes Guests at the Reception
ple. I’d wish and voice a hope that such
support will continue next year as well.”
Batu Kutelia commented on the develop-
ment of Georgian Armed Forces: “Today
Georgian Army is becoming more and
more interoperable with NATO standards
from finance and public resource manage-
ment system to armament and technolo-
gy. Undoubtedly it’s a very big success.
Besides, Georgian Armed Forces are trans-
parent to society and each citizen is able
to take information about the development
of our Army. The great achievement is also
the social package, which became the in-
separable part of our reforms. We have 32
thousands of military servants and all of
them are absolutely provided. They have
Director of Georgian Security Analysis Center David Smith and NATO Liasion Officer
all conditions for career growth, for serv-
Zbigniew Rybacki
ing their country and for promoting Geor-
gia abroad, which they have proved in Iraq
and Kosovo. Our contribution to peace-
keeping operation in Afghanistan is
planned for next year.”
Director of Georgian Security Analy-
sis Center David Smith made comments
in the context of implemented reforms
in the defence system: “The ongoing re-
forms at the Georgian Ministry of De-
fence during last four years have been
absolutely phenomenal. But it does not
mean everything is done, there is still a
lot to do, but I think at this point if you
look just at the Ministry of Defence it’s a
big success and we really should be look-
ing at the Membership Action Plan with
NATO quite soon.” Military Attache of Turkey, Staff Col Sefer Ajar and Chief of the Joint Staff, Col Zaza Gogava
Lt Col Nick Ridout, British Defence
Attache for Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia said, “I’d like to thank the Geor-
gian Ministry of Defence for organizing
this party and inviting to celebrate pre-
New Year period and Christmas. We are
spending here wonderful time. We are
enjoying being here.” Defence attache
said that Georgia and UK have close re-
lations in many fields. He also talked
about Georgian Army and about the con-
tribution in peacekeeping operations.
“The reforms that Georgia is carrying out
in order to become a member of NATO
are very good for the country,” added
Nick Ridout.
Nino Gogochishvili