Army Preparing to Respond to Challenges – Georgian Defense Minister Says

(Tbilisi, February 28, Civil Georgia) Georgia’s Defense Minister David Tevzadze speaking on national TV said Georgian Army is getting prepared to respond to the challenges of terrorism and would gratefully accept US assistance.

The Minister denied a possibility of any joint military operation with any country. “There is simply no legal basis for this in Georgia,” he argued.

The Minister also noted that the training of the troops with US assistance would continue “as long as it would be necessary for the soldiers to acquire the [anti-terrorism] skills.”

He also noted that such training is not a recent development. Tevzadze said that two Georgian batallions are on training grounds since December 2001 where they acquire “specific skills.”