New Year video-conference from Afghanistan

They may be thousands of kilometres away but the 1500 Georgian soldiers currently deployed in Afghanistan felt close to home when they were sent a congratulatory message by the Georgian Government.

The New Year message was delivered by Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania via video conference to the soldiers who are participating in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan.

Alasania and Chief of General Staff, Georgian General Mayor Vakhtang Kapanadze, wished the soldiers a happy New Year and thanked them for their service.

"[We] wish you success in provision for providing the international security and hope you return to [the] motherland peacefully, they said.

Georgian soldiers also wished a happy New Year to Georgian people and their families and encouraged them to live in a peaceful country.

Georgia has been assisting the ISAF in Afghanistan since 2004. Currently, there are more than 1,500 Georgia troops deployed there, making it the largest non-NATO contributor to ISAF and the fifth largest contributor overall.

The Defense Minister also visited the family of Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Chkuaseli to wish him and his nine children success.

He said the Georgian Army could be considered the "best example of hope and belief for the future. He said the Army always stood ready to serve their motherland.

In addition, Alasania and the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alexi Petriashvili also visited the Special Operations Forces and wished them a Happy New Year and promised future support.

"I wish a peaceful New Year to all of you, Alasania said.