Defence ministry to establish cybersecurity command, defence budget to reach $93 mln
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze said that works to establish infrastructure for the new cybersecurity branch would commence next year. Photo: defence ministry press office
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Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said his body was working to establish a cybersecurity command with the help of the United Kingdom and other allies, and announced the increase of the defence budget to ₾260 million ($93 mln) next year.
Speaking to the Georgian public broadcaster, Burchuladze said works to establish infrastructure for the new branch would commence in 2023 and use both the ₾5 million ($1.8 mln) assigned for the purpose from the budget and additional funds via grants.
The increase of the defence budget will allow the body to “launch new projects and take further steps to promote armed forces” among younger generations, he noted, adding the ministry was working on a new model for reserve forces - following instructions by prime minister Irakli Garibashvili - to make military service “more attractive” to the country’s citizens.
The Georgian defence minister said that the government was taking steps to promote armed forces in the younger generation. Photo: defence ministry press office.
We have made great efforts to modernise the reserve and conscript system in the [new] defence code. We have used the experience of the Baltic states, as well as Finland and Switzerland, in the process. I hope we will submit the document, which will work as a guideline for the next 10-20 years, to the legislative body soon", the minister said.
Responding to claims by a part of the domestic opposition over “poor conditions” in the armed forces, the minister said “this may be hard to imagine, but certain forces are against promotion and strength of our armed forces”. He reiterated authorities had ensured “better-than-ever” conditions in the armed forces.
The Georgian prime minister on Friday discussed the country’s new defence code with officials, with the document involving a modernising of the conscript and reserve systems and further steps to ensure better social conditions for servicemembers.
The government administration quoted officials as saying the code, scheduled to be submitted to parliament for approval by the end of this year, would also establish a new approach in the ministry’s management system, paving a way to a “completely new, flexible system” for military conscription.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said receiving the European Union membership candidate status before achieving a “full membership” of the bloc was the “top priority” of the Georgian government.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday said his government was working on the purchase of anti-aircraft and anti-armor equipment.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday discussed the country’s new defence code with defence minister Juansher Burchuladze and other officials of the body, with the document involving a modernising of the conscript and reserve systems and further steps to ensure better social conditions for servicemembers.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Wednesday praised conditions provided for the country's servicememembers as “better than in most of European states” and announced launch of new projects for domestic defence production and introduction of a defence code to promote armed forces among the youth.
Georgia’s domestic production of drones will launch next year following the testing of the first unmanned aerial vehicle produced by the newly established joint Georgian-Polish company, defence minister Juansher Burchuladze said on Monday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday announced “major changes” to the country’s defence system as part of the new defence code, which includes full transition of the compulsory military service to the Ministry of Defence mandate, requirement for the state to provide accommodation for servicemembers and their families, a “more flexible” military reserve system for students and moves to prevent evasion of service.
Five servicemembers of the Georgian Defence Forces were on Tuesday awarded for their service as part of a Defence Ministry project aimed at raising motivation and combat readiness of the country’s military personnel, the state body said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday laid the symbolic foundation for the ₾40 million ($15 mln) project of building a military lyceum in the Krtsanisi district of capital Tbilisi to serve the eastern section of the country’s defence structure, the Government press office said.
Georgia’s total defence strategy and deterrence policy are aimed at “maximum strengthening” of the country’s self-defence capabilities based on “existing needs and absence of international security umbrellas”, Deputy Defence Minister Grigol Giorgadze told the Georgian Public Broadcaster on Tuesday.