Alasania: Georgia won’t allow Russian pressure to stop it hosting NATO training centre

Georgia will never bow to Russian diktat, Georgia’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania says.

Alasania spoke about his country’s current relations with Russia in an interview with international news agency Reuters. He also touched upon the issue of Ukraine and divulged details of conducting joint military exercises with NATO member states in Georgia.

The Minister said Georgia would not allow pressure from Russia to stop it hosting a NATO training centre on its territory or deter its plans to deepen ties with the West.

"Confrontation with Russia should be avoided. Georgia needs stability. But we will never bow to the Russians, [...] to a 'diktat' from Russia on what is better for Georgia," Alasania said.

When speaking about Ukraine, Alasania - Georgia's former envoy to the United Nations (UN) and Defence Minister since 2012 – said Georgia wanted Ukraine to be successful and in this regard, Georgia saw Russia's actions as the main threat to the security of the region.

The Georgian Minister also touched upon NATO-Georgia relations and said his country’s cooperation would include hosting a training centre with the Alliance.

"This centre will be jointly operated by NATO and Georgia and it's going to be an additional layer of security and defensive capability for Georgia," he said.

"It will be a Georgia-owned facility but planning will be jointly done with NATO."

Alasania said NATO advisers would also help set up a separate logistical centre to facilitate the training centre, with NATO member states covering the bulk of the expenses for the creation of both centres as well as the training and exercises.

Georgia's Armed Forces would receive further support from the Alliance by having senior NATO officers attached to the army's general staff, he said.

Alasania noted Tbilisi was ready to share its experience with Iraq to help "build strong institutionalised armed forces there" and was exploring ways to help as the United States tackles Islamist fighters.