EU asks Georgia to send more soldiers to Central African Republic
Tweet 
Share
Georgia could increase the number of its officers in the European Union-led military advisory mission in the Central African Republic (CAR).
Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli announced the news today and said Georgia had been asked by the EU to send more officers to Africa to train local military authorities.
Khidasheli said the plan was to increase the number of Georgian officers in the CAR from the current five to 20 but before this could happen the country’s Parliament must approve this decision.
The Minister added the necessity of sending more Georgian soldiers to Africa emerged at yesterday’s conference in Brussels, Belgium.
"It’s very important and very prestigious when a non-EU country is asked to increase its contingent not only with military forces but also with advisers and instructors to train Central African military forces,” Khidasheli said.
"This is an honour for us and we are ready for this challenge,” she added.
Currently five Georgian officers serve in the CAR as part of a rapid response group and are tasked to escort and defend high-ranking military servants.
This week Khidasheli said she would appeal to Georgia’s Security Service to make sure the President files the project to Parliament. The Minister said she had already received verbal consent from the State Security Service but this was needed to be written down in a formal statement.
She added it was not 100 percent decided yet whether or not the increased number of Georgian officers would be needed, but the procedures needed to be completed soon regardless.
"Georgia’s Parliament finishes its Spring Session on June 24 and the current mission in the Central African Republic rotates on July 12,” Khidasheli said.
"So Georgia’s Parliament should make a decision on this issue before the Spring Session ends, otherwise we will physically have no time to present this issue to Parliament.”
The final decision regarding the number of Georgian officers in Africa will be made when Khidasheli attends more meetings in Brussels in two weeks.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Alasania has paid his first working visit to Central African Republic, were Georgian soldiers participate in an European Union (EU) led mission.
The Georgian Armed Forces serving in a mission in Central Africa are having a vital impact on the outcome of the European Union (EU) led mission.
Georgian soldiers are departing for the Central African Republic on June 6 to take part in a European Union-organised and French-led peaceful mission for six months.
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.
Georgia’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations is being discussed between Georgia’s Defence Minister and a UN representative at the UN headquarters in New York.
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.
Georgia is ready to contribute soldiers to the European Union rescue mission in violence-torn Central African Republic, Reuters reported.
New pictures featuring Georgian soldiers participating in a European Union (EU) peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic have been released.
A Georgian platoon from the country’s National Army has left for Central Africa to participate in the EU Military training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA).
A Georgian platoon has returned from its six-month tour within the European Union training mission in the Central African Republic. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili welcomed service members upon their arrival at Tbilisi International Airport last night.