Georgian Parliament official says country is “still” leader in combating terrorism

Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Saturday said the country was still a leader in combating terrorism.

He noted the United States Department of State's 2022 Country Report on Terrorism, published this week, represented one of the “important indicators” of the country's “success and credibility”, as well as a “true assessment” of the capacity of our country's security system, the Parliament press office said. 

“The fact that Georgia continues to be mentioned as a significant partner of the USA in this field is not surprising. Our country and its security system have always been distinguished by high quality of responsibility. Georgia-US strategic partnership is based on common values, mutual trust and mutual support”, he said.

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Beraia added the country's leading position was determined by a “number of specific indicators”, including the absence of terrorist incidents, prevention of specific contract killings, detention of dangerous persons, proper legislative and institutional framework, as well as the national counterterrorism strategy and action plan, interagency coordination and international cooperation.

“Traditionally, special attention in the report is devoted to highlighting the leading and coordinating role of the security service in dealing with terrorism and the high efficiency of the body’s activities”, he noted.

The Committee Chair also said the country's leading position in combating terrorism was the result of the country’s special services’ efforts to prevent threats.

He added Georgia and its citizens were protected from terrorist threats and noted by the country's counterterrorism efforts, the partner countries, cooperating with Georgia, also felt “safer and more secure”.