U.S. Boosts Military Cooperation with Georgia

The head of the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), Georgia, Major Doug Peterson, told reporters on August 3 that the United States continues its military cooperation with Georgia.

?The end of the Train and Equip Program [GTEP] does not mean the end of the U.S. military assistance to the country. Now, the most important is that the battalions trained under the U.S.-funded program preserve their military level,? Doug Peterson said.

The head of the ODC presented a plan for military cooperation with Georgia in 2005.

The plan envisages advanced training for those troops who participated in the GTEP program and also prosposes the implementation of the UH-1 Helicopter Program.

?U.S. instructors and mobile groups will arrive at the very beginning of 2005 to conduct trainings of Georgian militaries,? Doug Peterson added.

He also said that the ODC will have a new head soon ? Bradley Jones will replace Peterson as office head. ?The term of my contract has already expired. I have served in Georgia for two years and I am very pleased with my stay in the country,? Peterson added.

The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), Georgia, which has been operating in Georgia since 1999, plans and coordinates U.S. Military Assistance and Cooperation programs to support and assist the Georgian Ministry of Defense.