Deputy Interior Minister, US Defence Threat Reduction Agency official discuss cooperation

Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze on Sunday held an introductory meeting with David Canaday, the Head of the United States Defence Threat Reduction Agency’s Regional Office for the Caucasus, discussing the existing cooperation and ongoing projects and agreeing on the priority directions for future collaboration.

At the meeting, which was also attended by the Programme Coordinators from the DTRA’s Tbilisi Office, Darakhvelidze informed Canaday about the activities and current needs of the relevant units within the Ministry.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the “significant support” provided by the US over the years towards strengthening the capabilities of the Interior Ministry in response to the “complex challenges” in Georgia’s security, the Ministry said.

He also reiterated the importance of the Agency’s work to the Ministry, particularly in such priority areas as land and maritime border protection, as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear security, and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

He thanked Canaday for the technical and expert support rendered by the US agency to the Georgian side over the years.