High officials confirm Georgia military will serve in Africa

High ranking Georgian officials have confirmed Georgia will contribute to a mission in the Central African Republic.

Minister of Defense Irakli Alasania and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani assessed Georgia’s contribution to send soldiers to assist in the European Union rescue mission in violence-torn Central African Republic. 

Zalkaliani said it was "very important” for Georgia to join the EU rescue mission. He said Georgia’s military contribution was outlined in the agreement on crisis management operations between Georgia and the EU, which was signed at Vilnius Summit. 

"Georgia has to be not only a consumer of the European security but contributor of it as well. This is why it is important that Georgia will contribute to international security,” Zalkaliani said. 

Georgia’s Defense Minister did not reveal any information about the decision for Georgia to contribute to the mission in Central African Republic today but promised the Georgian society would be informed about mission details in the near future.

"The EU requested Georgia to contribute its very experienced and professional military personnel and we are in the process of discussing this proposal”, Alasania said.

Meanwhile, two days ago international news agency Reuters reported Georgia was ready to contribute soldiers to the EU rescue mission in African. 

The EU planned to send a 500 military personnel to the country in an effort to create a safe haven in the capital city, Bangui.

Reuters stated, at the Force Generation Conference in Brussels on Thursday, "Estonia and non-EU member Georgia had already voiced readiness to offer troops, a diplomatic source said.”