New wave of Georgian soldiers leave for Afghanistan
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"You are the face, identity and dignity of the Georgian state,” said Georgia’s Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli as she addressed a group of servicemen who are today leaving for Afghanistan to fight for international peace.
For the next seven months the 42nd Battalion of the IV mechanized brigade, the 52nd Battalion of the V Infantry brigade and the Guard platoon of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) will serve in one of the world’s most troubled nations in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-led Resolute Support mission.
Georgia's Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli with Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili (centre). Photo from the President's webpage.
While addressing the soldiers at Vaziani Military Base, Khidasheli wished them a safe and successful tour.
You are the face, identity and dignity of the Georgian state. These are not simple words. It is the reality of which Georgia has lived for 15 years, from the day when the first Georgian soldier stepped on to foreign soil to protect international peace and security,” the Minister said.
US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly (R) attended the ceremony. Photo from the President's webpage.
Khidasheli stressed it was the right choice for Georgia to send its troops abroad to fight for international peace, and the existing terrorism threats and recent terror attacks in Brussels confirmed this was necessary for Georgia to do.
All nations should unite against terrorism and strive for international peace,” Khidasheli said.
Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili also highlighted the terrorism threat in his speech before the soldiers.
You are leaving to serve your country and the wider world, for to defend international peace,” Margvelashvili said.
The United States (US) Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly addressed the departing soldiers, and stressed the professionalism and high work ethic of Georgian soldiers was greatly appreciated.
It can be said that somehow the US owes Georgia, as you continually participate in international peacekeeping missions. You are both warriors and peace ambassadors, and those two things are very important functions and obligations for each of you,” Kelly stressed.
Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili condemned terrorism in his speech. Photo from the President's webpage.
The Ambassador praised the soldiers for their commitment to international peace and for the braveness and professionalism shown on battlefields alongside American soldiers.
While speaking about this week’s terror attack in Brussels, Belgium, Kelly said no country in the world was safe from this type of violence.
- The NATO-led Resolute Support mission launched in early 2015 as a follow-on task from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, to which Georgia contributed about 750 troops.
- Currently Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support mission with 885 troops.
Georgian troops will continue to serve in Afghanistan in a NATO-led peacekeeping mission after 2017.
A plane carrying the body of Georgian soldier Vasil Kuljanishvili has touched down on Georgian soil. Kuljanishvili’s body was met by members of his family and several officials at Tbilisi International Airport this afternoon.
One Georgian serviceman has been killed and another has been injured while on duty in Afghanistan. Both soldiers were part of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.
Buried chemical explosives used in past conflicts have been discovered by Georgian soldiers near a heavily-populated German military base in northern Afghanistan.
Georgia is today marking five years’ service of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) in an international NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
“We’re champions in fighting for world peace”
Georgia’s newly appointed Minister of Defence Levan Izoria has travelled to Afghanistan for his first official international trip to meet local officials and visit Georgian soldiers who are on a peacekeeping and security mission serving alongside NATO and EU troops.
A month after Georgia celebrated its first ever Peacekeeper Day, a new group of Georgian soldiers have departed for Afghanistan to serve alongside NATO troops in a peacekeeping mission.
Top US commander in Afghanistan Army General John Nicholson thanked Georgia’s contribution to military efforts in Afghanistan yesterday as a non-NATO member state.
The relations between Georgia and the United States are stronger today than ever before, says a top US military official.
Georgian companies could be given the right to participate in tenders in Afghanistan.
One hundred Georgian soldiers from the 11th battalion of the 1st Infantry brigade and 21st battalion from the 2nd Infantry Brigade have left for the NATO peace mission in Afghanistan equipped with bulletproof vests and armor helmets made in Georgia by the State Military Scientific-Technical Center Delta.