France salutes Georgia’s participation in Central African mission
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France has thanked Georgia for its decision to take part in the French-led peace mission in the troubled Central African Republic.
Speaking at a joint news conference after talks with Georgia’s Foreign Minister in Tbilisi, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius welcomed Georgia’s decision to contribute troops to the EU military mission in Africa.
"You might say that Central Africa is far away though it is not so far when the issue is about taking part in stopping people being slaughtered. We live in a world where everything is interconnected and Europe is also the victim of what is happening there,” Fabius said.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze reconfirmed the country’s readiness to send soldiers to the troubled region.
"We are proud that Georgian soldiers will be helping French units in providing peace and security there,” Panjikidze said.
The Georgian Government decided to send 150 soldiers to join French and African Union troops in Central Africa. This was the first time Georgia contributed to an EU Security and Defence Mission and its first operation in Africa.
The mission aspired to create "a safe haven" at Bangui airport and in two nearby districts of the Central African Republic to allow the return of refugees who fled following violence between Muslim and Christian communities.
More than 100,000 people are currently living in awful conditions near the airport and almost a million people have been displaced in the country.
Georgian authorities have confirmed 150 troops will be sent to the troubled Central African Region to take part in a European Union military peacekeeping mission.
Georgia’s Parliament has approved the Government’s and President’s decision to have Georgian military participate in the European Union’s mission to Central Africa.
The Government of Georgia has approved Georgia’s military to contribute to a European Union (EU) rescue mission in the violence-torn Central African Republic.
High ranking Georgian officials have confirmed Georgia will contribute to a mission in the Central African Republic.
Georgia is ready to contribute soldiers to the European Union rescue mission in violence-torn Central African Republic, Reuters reported.
Georgia’s participation in the French-led peace mission in the troubled Central African Republic was one of the key issues discussed during French President Francois Hollande’s visit to Georgia today.
The business environment in Georgia is improving and the country is a good place to invest, said French President Francois Hollande at the Georgian-France Business Forum in Tbilisi today.
At a joint press conference held with President Giorgi Margvelashvili, the French leader spoke about importance for Georgia to sign the Association Agreement (AA) with the EU and the partnership between France and Georgia.
The Ministry of Defence of Georgia has temporarily relieved six employees, including a Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, after allegations emerged this afternoon that Georgian soldiers were involved in the alleged sexual abuse of children in the Central African Republic (CAR).