NATO Experts Concerned Over Delay of Reforms in Georgian Army

(Tbilisi, May 8, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili says NATO military experts are concerned that the lack of funding hinders reforms in the Georgian Armed Forces.

NATO military experts, who paid visit to Georgia on May 5-8, evaluated the current stage of transformation to the standards of the Euro-Atlantic alliance in the Georgian army.

“During the visit cooperation between the NATO and Georgia was discussed. We are doing best to implement 29 recommendations of the alliance,” Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told Civil Georgia on May 8.

“However the lack of finances delays the reforms. Because of these problems we could not implement the number of projects during the last 2 years,” Gela Bezhuashvili added.

On May 14 visit of the NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson in Georgia is scheduled.

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