MARCH 2008 ISSUE #9

One Day at a New Handbook Describes

Reserve Base
Georgia’s reserve training
program started in March 2007.
An 8-day retraining of those
battalions who have already
passed reserve training last year
and preparation of 25000 new
reservists are scheduled in 2008.
Reserve Battalions will pass
fire, tactical and engineering ex-
ercises in the framework of the
8-day retraining program. New
elements will be added to each
discipline and besides the skills
acquired last year reservists will
learn ambush, reaction to am-
bush, convoying, guarding fa-
cilities, etc.
In order to get more familiar
with the training process we de-
cided to visit Base #5 located in
Telavi, where 505th Battalion was
passing the retraining program.
The reservists’ day started at
6:00 am with morning exercis-
es. Having done physical exer-
cises, they went to the mess hall
for breakfast. Scheduled train-
ing started after breakfast. The
first task of the reservists was
ambush as well as reaction to
ambush. According to the In-
structor Capitan Malkhaz Etsa-
dashvili, reservists successful-
ly accomplished their task. They
managed to break the ambush
and rescued the wounded sol-
dier without any difficulties.
After dinner, reservists went
to Shakriani shooting range
where we followed them. Ac-
cording to the second task they
were to shoot in 100, 200, 300
m distance with cartridges.
“A real man has to know the
army life. Each brave man must
know what the feeling of pride
is that comes after achieving
each task. I am happy that I was
given the opportunity to feel
that. Most of all I liked is the
fire exercise,” said reservist
Giorgi Khizanishvili.
National Guard’s instructor,
First lieutenant Zviad Khozre-
vanidze, seemed to be satisfied
with the results of the fire exer-
cise. “I want to underscore that
compared to previous year re-
NATO-Georgia Relationship
servists have showed better re-
sults. 90% of shots hit the tar-
get,” he said.
Having completed the fire
exercise, reservists were as-
signed a new task: urban war-
fare and clearing houses of en-
emy forces. Instructors were
satisfied with the quality of the
reservists’ efforts. “This was
urban warfare. Reservists learnt
this last year. I want to under-
score that all the deficiencies
which they had previous year
were successfully eradicated
during this retraining program.
All the necessary skills that a
soldier must know during town
combat are acquired by the re-
servists,” declared Captain Ilia
Janiashvili.
Exercises were over at 18:00
o’ clock. Having handed over
the equipment, the reservists
went to dinner. Reservists re-
ceived the order “retreat” at
20:00 o’clock and went to the
barracks afterwards.
Nino Rusadze
Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and the First Deputy Defence Minister Batu Kutelia at the presentation

Reservists during fire exercise
The presentation of a book
called “NATO-Georgia’s Secu-
rity” was held at the Tbilisi Mar-
riot hotel.
The handbook contains in-
formation about the structure of
the Alliance, the relationship be-
tween NATO and Georgia and
historical reasons behind the de-
cision of a group of democratic
states to establish the North At-
lantic Treaty Organization.
Readers can get information
about the details of NATO trans-
formation after the Cold War.
Parliamentary Chairperson
Nino Burjanadze, the First Dep-
uty Defence Minister Batu
Kutelia, Deputy Defence Min-
ister Giorgi Muchaidze, Chief
of Joint Staff of the Georgian
Armed Forces Col. Zaza Goga-
va, representatives of NGOs and
diplomatic corps accredited to
Georgia attended the presenta-
tion of the handbook.
Presentation of the book was
opened by the First Deputy De-
fence Minister Batu Kutelia.
“The book will be interest-
ing for readers of all ages. It will
help raise awareness of students
and interested readers about the
North Atlantic Alliance and
NATO-Georgia relationship.
Georgian citizens must be well
informed why Georgia wants to
integrate in the Alliance and
what benefits NATO member-
ship will bring.”
Parliamentary Chairperson
Nino Burjanadze commented
on the importance of the new
handbook: “The content of the
book is very interesting and
very important. I want to use
this opportunity and express
gratitude to the authors of the
book and leadership of the De-
fence Ministry for their efforts
and important steps Georgia has
recently taken in the NATO in-
tegration process.”
The handbook was published
with the financial support of the
Georgian and Latvian Defence
Ministries. The project was ini-
tiated by the “Information Cen-
ter on NATO”, “New Genera-
tion, New Initiative” and Latvi-
an Transatlantic Organization.
The handbook “NATO-
Georgia’s Security” is designat-
ed for students and is addition-
al reading material for schools.
The books will be distributed at
secondary schools free of
charge.
Shalva Londaridze

Winter Mountain Training Course Completed
Winter Mountain Training
Course was completed at the
Sachkhere Mountain Training
School.
With the assistance of French
specialists, 14 instructors of the
Mountain Training School un-
derwent the training program on
the basis of Georgian-French
Agreement signed in 2004.
Today Georgian instructors
were handed over diplomas of
the Group Commander of Moun-
tain Unit.
The Chief of Joint Staff of the
Georgian Armed Forces congrat-
ulated the military servicemen
on the successful completion of
the course.
“This day is one more step
forward. Georgian Armed Forc-
es will have mountain instructors
trained in compliance with
NATO standards,” stated Col.
Zaza Gogava. The chief of train-
ing program Lionel Pechera
spoke about the success of the
Georgian instructors: “I am sat-
isfied with the training level of
Georgian instructors. They have
achieved important success in
this training. I hope all of them
will become professionals.”
The four-week mountain
training program included theo-
retical and practical trainings and
was conducted in Sachkhere and
Bakuriani. During the course
military servicemen were trained
in movement in high mountain-
ous regions, searching and res-
cuing persons buried under ava-
lanches, as well as in technical
skiing in paved-unpaved way.
They also improved shelter set-
ting up and obstacle overcoming
skills in high mountainous re-
gions.
The next training course will
be conducted in summer. Person-
nel will be trained in mountain
climbing and movement in high
mountainous regions.
Continued on p.3
INSIDE
Defence Today
MoD Publishes “Minister’s
Interviews the Minister Vision 2008-2011”
of Defence of Armenia,
Brigadier General William
Michael Harutinyan
Bowie Visits Georgia
“I am proud to wear the
uniform of the Georgian Training of Military
Army” Personnel in Georgia
Ethnic Minorities in the Georgian Army on Trafficking in Persons
15th Anniversary of the German-Georgian Project
Artillery Day Focuses on the Environment
2 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
Defence Today Interviews the Minister of
Defence of Armenia, Michael Harutinyan
What is the goal of your visit to
Georgia?
First of all I want to mention that the
Georgian-Armenian relations have very
important and regional meaning as they
seek to resolve problems in political,
economical and in defence spheres. I
suppose that these relations are equally
beneficial for Georgia and Armenia.
Friendship between our two nations dur-
ing the centuries, deep cultural relations,
and very similar historical fate make
Georgian and Armenian relations very
significant.
Unfortunately we have to mention
that Georgian and Armenian relations in
Defence sphere are not yet at the level
that would be appropriate for good
neighborly relations between our coun-
tries. To this day, there are no signed
treaties and agreements in Georgian-
Armenian defence relations; there are no
combined programs that would be able
to enhance our cooperation.
At a glance it looks like there are no
any hindrances to improve the relations
in the defence sphere, but unfortunate-
ly, at this time no steps were made for
this. I think that we have to improve our
relations in the defence sphere, because
we have a big potential for developing
long-term collaboration. This is the mis-
sion of my visit to Georgia.
As is known, a Georgian Military
attache is appointed in the Republic
of Armenia. How will he assist in de-
veloping the Georgian-Armenian mil-
itary relationship?
You know that it’s almost 3 years
since an Armenian Military attache has
been accredited in Georgia. I’m very hap-
py that this year Georgia plans to accred-
it its military attache to Armenia. First of
all, this fact shows that both sides are in-
“I am proud to wear the uniform of the Georgian Army”
Throughout the long history of our
country Georgians had to defend their
motherland from numerous foreign in-
vaders and fight against brutal conquer-
ors.
Georgia’s small but multiethnic
army united not only the Georgian but
the combatants of other nationalities as
well. They always stood shoulder to
shoulder with the Georgian soldiers and
defended our homeland and it is worth
mentioning that they occupied very im-
portant positions. Brothers Ivane and
Zakaria Mkhargrdzelis, of Kurdish de-
scent, were distinguished commanders
of the Georgian Army.
Husband of Queen Tamar, Davit
Soslan, Ossetian in nationality,
Temur Sherbakov
terested in building up a good relation-
ship in the military sphere, as far as the
main task of military attache is strength-
ening military relations. Also, the pres-
ence of a Military attache will give an
opportunity to resolve many questions
and challenges in the military sphere.
From my point of view, one of the
main factors which inhibit Georgian and
Armenian cooperation in the military
sphere is that there is a lack of informa-
tion about military reforms in our coun-
tries, also about the future plans of Geor-
gian and Armenian Armed Forces. This
can lead to distortion of facts and infor-
mation about internal state processes. In
Ethnic Minorities in the Georgian Army
achieved several great victories against
the Persians.
In a very critical period in the his-
tory of Georgia, King David the Build-
er achieved the greatest military vic-
tory on August 12, 1121, known in the
Georgian history as the Miraculous
Victory. The Battle of Didgori was
fought between the Georgian and Sel-
juk armies at Didgori, 40 kilometers
west of Tbilisi. The Seljuks had a
crushing superiority in numbers com-
pared to the Georgian army. King Dav-
id’s army unitied the warriors of vari-
ous nationalities under his flag, among
them Kipchak auxiliaries, Alan mer-
cenaries and French Crusaders.
Today, the Georgian Army, like the
this case, I think that the institution of
Military attaché will improve the exist-
ing situation.
Armenia is in the process of imple-
mentation of IPAP. How is this pro-
cess going forward, from the point
view of interoperability with NATO,
and what kind of reforms were under-
taken at Ministry of Defence of Ar-
menia, in the framework of this doc-
ument?
IPAP with NATO is targeted to pro-
vide defence reforms with the help of our
partners. This reform includes the whole
range of military spheres and tasks. Be-
cause of this we provide a complex of
rest of the country, tries to establish its
deserved place in the commonwealth
of democratic nations where the inter-
ests of all ethnic or religious minori-
ties will be protected and each citizen
of Georgia feel like a full member of
society.
We took interest in the percentage
of the ethnic minorities in the Georgian
Armed Forces. According to statistical
data, the share of ethnic minorities in
the Army is proportional to their share
in the country overall.
We decided to interview several rep-
resentatives of ethnic minorities in the
Georgian Armed Forces.
Temur Sherbakov, 25 years old,
Corporal of Ceremonial Company,
Ukrainian
My grandfather, Iakob Sherbakov,
was a participant of the Second World
War and I always admired his battle
awards. My uncle, Gela Sherbakov,
fought for Georgia’s territorial integri-
ty in Abkhazia. All this made me want
to serve in the Georgian Armed Forc-
es. Today I have a very responsible and
crucial task, as the Company where I
serve presents Georgia before the high-
ranking foreign officials. We have the
honor to keep the state flag and nation-
al symbols of Georgia. It is a great plea-
sure to be the guard of honor at the
memorial of heros even in the wind and
rain. Representatives of various nation-
alities are serving beside me and we are
all proud to serve in the Georgian
Armed Forces. Georgia is our home-
land.
reforms, including creation of Peacekeep-
ing Brigades, which will be fully interop-
erable with NATO forces. In 2007, the
National Security concept and Military
Doctrine of Armenia was adopted. A wide
range of reforms is done in the legisla-
tive sphere. With this, I want to mention
the act about “Special Civilian Service”,
which is the principal act according to
which the civilian positions will be inte-
grated into the defence ministry system.
It’s planed that these reforms will be over
before the end of 2008. Also reforms are
done in the General Staff of Armenian
Armed forces, which will comply with
all international modern standards; in the
nearest future act “About Defence” will
be updated.
Which reforms have the first pri-
ority in the Ministry of Defence of Ar-
meniaj today?
Today we have a very important task
– carry out Strategic Defense Review,
which would be implemented from 2008
to 2010. Strategic Defense Review will
expose the situation in the Armed Forc-
es and the need for their modernization.
A more effective structure of the Armed
Forces is being specified.
What can you say about participa-
tion of Armenian peacekeepers in in-
ternational peacekeeping operations,
and what is the number of your contin-
gent and are you going to increase it?
I want to remark with pleasure that
Georgia and Armenia are contributors
to strengthening the international secu-
rity. When talking about Armenian
peacekeepers, I will say that at this time
Armenian peacekeepers are in Kosovo
(34 personnel) and in Iraq (46 person-
nel). At the same time, MOD of Arme-
nia has negotiations about increasing the
Armenian contingent twofold.
Madina Kurmazia
Madina Kurmazia, Sergeant of the
National Guard since 1996, Abkhaz
I am very proud that I am serving in
the National Guard of Georgia. Many
relatives are living in Abkhazia, in
Gudauta. I wish there were no problems
between Georgians and Abkhazians. I
want us all to live as a big, one family.
I acknowledge that the best guarantee
for this is the Georgian Army, in which
I serve.
Mikheil Kazarian, 27 years old,
Lieutenant, Officer of J-1 of Krtsanisi
National Training Center, Armenian
I have been serving in the Georgian
MARCH 2008 ISSUE #9
How do the Armenian Armed
Forces benefit from participating in
peacekeeping operations?
Participation in International Peace-
keeping Operations helps to strengthen
the level of efficient collaboration with
international forces, and also to check
in practice the compatibility and effec-
tiveness of standards which we deliver
using mixing of our national and inter-
national experience and we adopt in the
Armenian Armed Forces. Such kind of
experience is very important for the re-
form process, as theory and practice of-
ten diverge from each other.
How effectively are NATO integra-
tion reforms being carried out at the
Armenian MoD?
First of all I want to say that while
talking about relations with NATO, in
this case the approaches of Georgia and
Armenia are different.
Georgia considers NATO integration
as a guarantee of its national security.
NATO – Armenian relations are active
in three directions:
1. Military-political dialogue
2. Reforms in the defence sphere
3. Collaboration in the educational
sphere
At this time, relations in these three
spheres can be estimated as sufficiently
effective. Though there are some more
differences. Armenia is a member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization,
Armenia considers the CSTO the most
important factor providing its security.
It means that the effectiveness of re-
forms in the Armenian Armed Forces is
conditional not only on Armenian –
NATO relations but also on processes
in the framework of CSTO.
David Jokhadze
Armed Forces since 2003. I graduated
from Georgian Technical University
and in the same year I passed in the Na-
tional Defence Academy. I graduated
from the Academy with honors and
now I serve in Krtsanisi National Train-
ing Center of the Educational Depart-
ment of the Joint Staff. My brother Le-
van Kazarian also serves in the Geor-
gian Armed Forces. For our family
serving in the Georgian Army is a mat-
ter of dignity. I am proud to wear the
uniform of the Georgian Army. I hope
that the Georgian Army will solve all
problems it faces today.
Malkhaz Topuria
MARCH 2008 ISSUE #9 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY
3

15th Anniversary MoD Publishes “Minister’s

of the Artillery Day
The Georgian Armed Forces cele-
brated the Artillery Day on March 15.
15th anniversary of the Artillery Day
was marked with a solemn ceremony on
the grounds of Artillery Brigade in Gori.
Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the
Georgian Armed Forces Mikheil
Saakashvili, Minister of Defence of
Georgia David Kezerashvili and Chief
of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed
Forces Col. Zaza Gogava congratulated
the military personnel on the occasion
of the Artillery Day.
The President of Georgia laid a
wreath at the memorial of the Georgian
heroes who made the supreme sacrifice
for the territorial integrity of the coun-
try and addressed the Georgian artil-
lerists. “Artillery is the most honorable
and experienced part of the Georgian
Armed Forces... the only military school
which was preparing soldiers and the
warplanes has doubled, the number of
our helicopters has increased threefold,
the number of trained pilots – fivefold,
the number of tanks – twenty times…
Our defence budget was up to 30 mil-
lion USD in 2004 and most of it was
squandered. Now defence budget is up
to a billion USD and each tetri is used
for developing and strengthening the
Georgian Armed Forces,” Saakashvili
said.
He also said that the NATO Assess-
ment Team that visited Georgia in late
January made an excellent report about
the Georgia’s defense reforms. “It was
a surprise even for those NATO mem-
ber countries that are skeptical about
Georgia’s NATO membership.”
The First Deputy Defence Minister
of Georgia, Batu Kutelia, talked about
the Georgian Artillery: “As the president
remarked, Artillery is the core of the
President of Georgia at
the Artillery Base
of emotions when marking the Artillery
Day. I want to congratulate all artillerists
and their family members on this day. I
want to wish them victory and unity.”
Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian
Armed Forces, Col. Zaza Gogava, de-
clared: “First of all, I want to congratu-
late our country and the Georgian Armed
Forces on the occasion of the Artillery
Day. The 15th of March is a day when
the first units of the Georgian Artillery
were established. I want to say to our
country, our society, that Artillery is one
of the most distinguished units of the
Georgian Armed Forces, which is well
prepared and has modern armament and
this is not the point where we are going
to stop. Our Armed Forces and Artillery
will continue to develop and improve
their capabilities and professionalism.”
By the end of the ceremony, Deputy
Defence Minister of Georgia, Batu
Vision 2008-2011”
One more important document –
“Minister’s Vision 2008-2011” – was
approved and published on the official
web-site of the Defence Ministry at the
beginning of March.
The Minister’s vision is a strategic
document that describes those goals and
activities which will be implemented at
the Ministry of Defence and in the Geor-
gian Armed Forces by 2008 and over the
next 3 years. The vision provides gen-
eral guidance for the Ministry of De-
fence, Joint Staff and the Georgian
Armed Forces and determines the main
vectors of defence system development.
The document was published for the
third time. “Minister’s Vision 2008-
2011” differs from the previous docu-
ments. It reflects the Minister’s Vision
for the next four years.
There are three main directions in the
document. Those are: facilitation of
NATO integration process, improve-
ment of the Defence System Manage-
ment and Georgian Armed Force’s
(GAF) Combat Capabilities. Those chal-
lenges that Georgia should expect are
also highlighted in the Minister’s Vision.
They are: Escalation of tensions in the
separatist regions; Possible spillover of
tensions from the North Caucasus re-
gion; Restriction of energy supplies; In-
ternational terrorism; Proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction; Criminal
trafficking in drugs, humans and weap-
ons; International criminal cartels; Nat-
ural and man-made disasters.
In order to support NATO Integra-
tion Process, implementation of follow-
ing activities are planned: plan and de-
velop de-mining capabilities; create a
joint logistic support system for the
MOIA Border Police and MoD subor-
dinate aircraft and maritime facilities;
continue participation in international
operations and joint training; Implement
NATO IPAP and Partnership Goals; im-
prove logistical support of deployed
forces in international peacekeeping and
stability operations; implement a Logis-
tic Interoperability Concept with NATO
Forces; improve airfield infrastructure
in accordance with NATO standards;
develop Host Nation Support capabili-
ties; elaborate and implement a Joint
Intelligence Concept; elaborate and pub-
lish NATO interoperable military guid-
ance, normative documents, instruc-
tions, admonitions, regulations and doc-
trines;
It is very important that a new Re-
serve and Mobilization system will be
refined and developed and the Georgian
Armed Forces will be manned with con-
tract based military servants till the end
of 2009.
The strategic document also under-
scores that in the course of implementa-
tion of the priorities set out by this Min-
ister’s Vision, there is the possibility of
unanticipated threats and challenges or
deficiencies. In order to face these chal-
lenges, MoD considers it important to
maintain close cooperation between the
MoD and Joint Staff and a high level of
interagency coordination. Also, close
coordination and cooperation with other
governmental agencies and rational use
of interagency efforts is important.
The Minister’s Vision emphasizes
the quintessential role that ensuring
transparency, sustaining strong public
support, and improving civilian control
play in a successful defence transforma-
tion process. Society should be well in-
formed on the processes which take
place within the MOD and the GAF, in-
cluding the factors that impact its direc-
tion and changes in it. It is also impor-
tant for the public to be informed about
matters such as the defence budget.
From this perspective, this document
represents another step forward and en-
hances the continuity and transparency
for the defence transformation process.
Nino Gogochishvili

Brigadier General William

only military school that supplied the Georgian Armed forces that will guar- Kutelia, Chief of Joint Staff of the Geor-
Georgian Armed Forces with the best antee and protect the territorial integri- gian Armed Forces, Col. Zaza Gogava,
military professionals was the Tbilisi ty of Georgia. Artillery has a huge role and Commander of Artillery Brigade,

Bowie Visits Georgia

Artillery School,” declared the President
of Georgia.
He said Georgia had 33,000 profes-
sional and 100,000 reserve servicemen.
“Four years ago we had more than 2,000
troops. In aviation the number of our
in strengthening the defence capacity of
Georgia, and the success which Geor-
gian artillery had in past, proves it.
Today, the Georgian Artillery is
equipped with the most modern, precise
systems and it’s natural that we are full
Maj.-Gen. Devi Chankotadze granted
presents to the families of heroes who
died protecting the territorial integrity
of Georgia. Red Cross International Committee Regional advisor on cooperation with Armed
and Security Forces retired Brigadier General William Bowie paid a visit to Geor-
Rusudan Tsimakuridze gia. Representative of Red Cross International Committee held a meeting with the
head of National Guard Department of Georgia Colonel David Aptsiauri. From the

Photo Contest “My Soldier”
Public Affairs Department of the Min-
istry of Defence of Georgia announces
annual Photo Contest “My Soldier”
aimed at popularization of the Georgian
Armed Forces. Interested professional
and amateur photographers are invited
to participate in the contest.
Photo Contest “My Soldier” will be
held in the following nominations: The
Best Portrait, The Best Composition,
The Most Dynamic Shot and The Best
Photo Coverage. The winners in each
nomination will be awarded cash priz-
es. The best photographer selected by the
jury will receive the special prize “My
Soldier”.
Photographers interested in taking
part in the photo contest can submit their
entries in electronic and A4-size format,
no less than 10 photos, from March 20
to April 20 at the following address: #20,
Gen. Kvinitadze St., Ministry of Defence
of Georgia; To Public Affairs Depart-
ment, for Photo Contest “My Soldier”.
Georgian side Chiefs of National Guard’s G-3 and G-5 divisions LTC. Valeri Dzeb-
isashvili and LTC. Telman Meskhidze attended the meeting as well. The sides dis-
cussed implementation of memorandum of understanding signed between MoD of
Georgia and ICRC at meeting.
The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is dissemination of informa-
tion in the Georgian Armed Forces regarding the principles and rules of Internation-
al Humanitarian Law, Georgian legislative acts and international legal documents
which determine the behavior of those who take part in hostilities. According to the
document, working groups will be set up that will meet at least three times a year.
They will draw up the annual action plan to carry out joint activities. The Memoran-
dum envisages organizing and holding seminars for MoD and the Georgian Armed
Forces personnel. Trainings in International Humanitarian Law will be provided for
the students of Defence Academy and the Georgian peacekeepers.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Georgian Defence Minis-
try have been successfully cooperating since 2003. Dissemination and integration of
IHL in the Georgian Armed Forces activities and training represents one of the stan-
dards and requirements of the international community and NATO.
Nino Rusadze
Winter Mountain Training Course Completed
Continued from p.1
They will study movement on icy
surfaces and rescuing people from ice.
Summer mountain training will be
completed with long distance forced
march, but before this, a Ukrainian
platoon that will visit Georgia will re-
ceive training at the Sachkhere Moun-
tain School. Ukrainian military per-
sonnel will be trained by Georgian in-
structors. This training, to last for three
weeks, will be conducted in Gudauri.
4 MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 2008 ISSUE #9

Training of Military Personnel in Georgia

on Trafficking in Persons
Military personnel of the Georgian
Armed Forces are undergoing trainings
on trafficking issues. The trainings for
those Georgian military servicemen who
are sent on peacekeeping missions
abroad are provided by the Internation-
al Organization for Migration (IOM).
The project “Training of Military
Personnel in Georgia on Trafficking in
Persons” aims to raise the awareness of
military personnel in Georgia on traf-
ficking in persons, thus equipping them
with the required knowledge and skills
that will be important while they are on
military missions abroad.
This project is implemented in close
cooperation with the US Embassy in
Georgia, with a view to support the Gov-
ernment of Georgia to remain in line
with minimum standards of combating
trafficking in persons.
Basic trainings were given to 89
NCO and 219 Officers of the Georgian
Military - to all the NCOs and Officers
currently studying at the military edu-
cational institutions.
The format of the training is interac-
tive with a 45 minute power point pre-
sentation followed by another hour of
practical exercises. The trainings are
conducted with the help of various vi-
sual and video materials. Posters and
pocket cards were created for the pro-
gram that specifically target Georgian
soldiers who are on military missions
abroad in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Importantly, these posters and pocket
cards contain the number to call should
a soldier become aware of any incidents
on trafficking. The 15 minute video was
professionally produced and is to be uti-
lized as a brief tutorial for the Georgian
soldiers on the basics of TIP. With the
confirmation of MOD, the DVD would
be viewed by all Georgian soldiers head-
ed to Iraq. 400 participant workbooks
were given to all non-commissioned
officers and officers who participated in
the basic awareness raising training on
combating human trafficking.
IOM has also carried out a training
of trainers for over 60 military instruc-
tors at the military academies to ensure
the sustainability of the program.
Project manager, Kristin Dadey,
speaks about the real value of the project
and about the degree of interest on the
part of the soldiers: “Post conflict areas
are especially vulnerable to human traf-
ficking. Because Georgian soldiers play
a key role in peace keeping missions
around the world, it is important to train
them in the basics of combating human
trafficking. Training soldiers about this
important issue will help them to iden-
tify victims of trafficking and understand
their own obligations as soldiers in fight-
ing this horrific crime. This training pro-
gram for soldiers is a first of its kind
and will serve as an example to other
countries sending soldiers on peace
keeping missions about the importance
of raising awareness of their soldiers
about this critical issue. Throughout the
training, the soldiers were actively en-
gaged, asking many questions and dem-
onstrating their own commitment to
combating this crime.”
According to the project manager,
the support of the Ministry of Defense
has been critical in the implementation
of this program. “The Ministry of De-
fense has organized the trainings, pro-
vided the soldiers to be trained and pro-
vided the space to carry out the train-
ings. The MoD has given commitment
at the highest levels.” The project be-
gan in December 2007 and will end in
March 2008. The project was initiated
by the United States Department of State
Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs and the Min-
istry of Defense of Georgia.
Thea Chonishvili

Georgian-Dutch Training German-Georgian Project Focuses

Project Completed
A one-year project in Human Resources Management field was completed. The
project was implemented in the framework of the Planning, Programming and Bud-
on the Environment
geting System /Financial Management System (PPBS/FMS).
The training started in January 2007 and aimed to retrain Human Resource and
Personnel Management staff. The training program was led by the experts from the
Dutch Ministry of Defence.
Official award ceremony of the Dutch experts was held at the Ministry of De-
fence of Georgia. Deputy Defence Minister Giorgi Muchaidze expressed gratitude
and handed over honorable diplomas to the Dutch experts.
“The Human Resource Management Program was provided successfully by the
Dutch experts for the last two years and participants of public sector passed above
mentioned program,” declared Giorgi Muchaidze.
The head of Dutch delegation Edith Schrijver-Daniels granted certificates and
memorable gifts to the Georgian participants of the training project.
MDI & ASSESS pilot project was carried out in the Defence Policy and Planning
Department.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has actively supported the Georgian Defence
Ministry in development of Georgian version of Competences Management Sys-
tem. The above mentioned system defines the duties and functions of public sector
servants in the defence sphere, identifies the fulfillment of their obligations and the
level of their competence and qualification as well.
The Dutch side will establish the Georgian version of Competences Management Currently, when Georgia is at the installations at Dedoplistskaro Demili- will be constructed.
System in every structural unit of the public office step-by-step. stage of Intensified Dialogue with tarization Centre, software development The laboratory-technical equipment
NATO and aspires towards NATO mem- for GIS System and perspectives of of military-scientific centre “Delta” fi-
Georgian Navy Receives bership, the support that NATO mem-
ber countries provided for Georgia is
equipment of Environmental Laborato-
ry. The group of German and Georgian
nanced in the framework of the project
will allow Georgian experts to carry out

Equipment Grant from Turkey especially important for successful im-

plementation of Georgia’s Individual
Partnership Action Plan commitments.
Republic of Turkey granted radio-technical navigation devices to the Georgian Naval The German-Georgian Environment
Forces. The technical equipment was transferred to Georgia at Marneuli Military Air Project is a good example of assistance
Base, on the basis of Military Grant Agreement concluded between Georgia and Turkey provided by the Federal Republic of
in 2005 and in the framework of Logistic Implementation Protocol. Germany to Georgia in the military
The Act of Handover and Acceptance was signed by the Chief of Logistical Support sphere. The Ministry of Defence of Ger-
Department of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Maj. Nikoloz Dzebniauri and many provides expert and material-tech-
by the Chief of DAKOT, Staff Maj. Ahmed Kose on behalf of Turkey, on the territory of nical assistance to the Georgian Defence
Marneuli Military Terminal. Ministry in order to carry out the ongo-
Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces congratulated the Geor- ing defence reforms.
gian sailors on receiving the technical equipment. In the framework of the bilateral en-
“The Georgian Navy will be equipped with modern systems. In the nearest future the vironmental project between Georgia
equipment will be installed on the military vessels by the Turkish side. They will also and the Federal Republic of Germany,
assist us in training of the specialists. I want to express my gratitude to the Turkish side six experts from the Ministry of Defence
for their assistance,” declared LTC Alexandre Osepaishvili. and the Ministry of Nature, Environment
Military Attache of the Turkish Armed Forces commented on military cooperation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Re-
between Georgia and Turkey. public of Germany visited the Ministry
“Georgian sailors will be able to carry out maximal control of movement of vessels of Defence of Georgia in the middle of
with the technical equipment that meets the most modern specifications, including being March. At the working meeting, the par-
able to detect movement underwater. We are ready to support our Georgian colleagues in ticipants discussed the ongoing activi-
the future in order to deepen cooperation between our two countries,” stated Staff Colo- ties in the framework of the project and
nel Sefer Ajar. future plans. They have also addressed
After the official ceremony the guests viewed the granted radio-technical equipment. the construction of hexogen utilization
experts visited the radioactive waste dis-
posal storage in Mtskheta.
The project “Establishment of Envi-
ronment Protection Management Sys-
tem in Georgian Military Sector” start-
ed functioning in 2006 and will last till
2009. The goal of the project is to es-
tablish an environment protection man-
agement system in the Georgian Armed
Forces. The first stage of the project
(2006-2007) included the reconstruction
of Dedoplistskaro Demilitarization Cen-
ter and working to bring the military
closer to NATO ecological standards.
Currently, the second stage of the
project (2007-2008) is underway. This
stage refers to the formation of military
base geo-informational system (GIS) of
Georgian Armed Forces. On this basis,
the Ecological Data Base will be
formed; the necessary equipment for
environmental protection monitoring
laboratories will be purchased; the hex-
ogen utilization installations at De-
doplistskaro Demilitarization Centre
ecological supervision on Georgian mil-
itary bases. This process has a special
importance as implementation of eco-
logical monitoring is necessary on the
military bases handed over by the Rus-
sian Federation.
By the end of 2007, German and
Georgian experts estimated Orpolo fir-
ing range and Kopitnari aerodrome. As
a result they selected pilot territories
which will be exemplary for Georgian
Armed Forces from the ecological point
of view. The third stage of the project,
to be implemented during 2008-2009,
envisages the establishment of environ-
mental protection management system
in Orpolo and Kopitnari.
The final goal of the joint project –
establishment of the environmental pro-
tection management system in Georgian
military sector – will ensure the regula-
tion of the influence of military activi-
ties on the environment.
Tea Kerdzevadze