In pictures: Georgian servicemen in Africa

New pictures featuring Georgian soldiers participating in a European Union (EU) peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic have been released.

The pictures were published by Georgia’s Defence Ministry after it received the photographs from an Italian officer who served as a spokesperson for the peace mission in Africa.

The EU has multiple times said it was grateful for Georgia’s contribution to its peace missions.

Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission said during his yesterday’s Tbilisi visit: "Let me say something that is very important for the European Union - that we really value and appreciate a lot - which is Georgia's contribution to the European Union-led missions and operations in the Central African Republic, in Mali and in Ukraine.”

"This is really concrete cooperation on security issues day-by-day, our people working together side-by-side in the framework of European Union operations and missions show that indeed we are working already together for the security and stability not only of our own region but also globally.”

Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia Giedrius Puodziunas also expressed his gratitude to Georgia’s participation in these missions when he tweeted today: "We try to make our world a better place."

We try to make our world a better place. Thanks #Georgia for being with #EU in the hot spots pic.twitter.com/TNbAhxCMK9

— Giedrius Puodziunas (@Puodziunas_G) November 11, 2015

Georgia has been participating in peacekeeping missions since 1999: Several thousands of Georgian servicemen have contributed to missions in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.