Professionalism of border guards vital to country’s sovereignty, says PM

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili believes Georgia’s sovereignty and the inviolability of state borders depends on the professionalism of the country’s border guards.

Garibashvili made this announcement at an event today where infrastructure projects implemented this year by the Border Police of Georgia were presented and discussed.

"Ensuring the security of our borders is a major goal of the Government and we spare no efforts to achieve this goal. We will defend the main principles of the border forces including the inviolability of state borders for strengthening international security,” Garibashvili said in his speech.

"This will contribute to the strengthening of peace not only in our country but also in the region. I wish the best success to all countries including mine within internationally recognised borders by international law.”

More than 13 million GEL has been spent this year on the construction and renovation of 10 border areas where Georgia bordered Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, the PM said.

The total length of Georgia’s land border was 1,839 km, stated the Border Police of Georgia, a governmental body responsible for the protection of the state border of the country.

Meanwhile, Garibashvili expressed his gratitude to the Government of the United States (US) for providing the Border Police of Georgia with more modern technologies in terms of its border control system.

"The operational management of the state border has become more efficient. These technologies will be the basis for implementing a global management and control system of the border which our Government plans to implement in the nearest future,” Garibashvili said.

The Prime Minister also noted in the framework of the Eastern Partnership, construction of five border sections and facilities on the Georgia-Azerbaijan boundary line was planned. Similarly, along the Georgia-Turkey border it was expected this infrastructure would also be established.