They also Expect Tangible Benefits after the War
Leadership of Georgia, which is in the US list of 30 nations described as “Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq,” says it is ready to provide the United States “any kind of assistance in war against Iraq” and start preparations for the possible impact of war on Georgia.
“Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense,” US President George W. Bush said in his televised address announcing the start of war against Iraq on March 20.
Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze said on March 19 “Georgia is ready to assist the United States with all means, including use of Georgian airfields in a war against Iraq.”
There are some speculations in the Georgian media sources that the Georgian troops, trained by the US military instructors in the frames of the Train-and-Equip program might participate in the war against Iraq. However, Defense Minister says “it is too early to talk about it.”
“Georgia is among the US allies, but at the moment Georgia is not directly involved in the war against Iraq. In case of request we’ll do our best to assist,” Jemal Gakhokidze, the First Deputy Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council told Civil Georgia on March 20.
He says that the use of Georgian military bases would be the most tangible assistance that Georgia can provide to the US. “But this depends on how the events would develop. Namely, [it will depend] on Turkey’s position and on modalities and time span of the military campaign. At present, an issue of use of either our air space or our military bases is not being discussed,” Gakhokidze said.
Secretary of the Georgian Security Council Tedo Japaridze said on March 18 Georgia has stepped up protection of “all the facilities of vital importance.”
Georgia is 400 kilometers away from the northern borders of Iraq and 1000 kilometers – from the country’s central regions. However, experts say that certain part of Iraqi refuges, which already sought shelter in Azerbaijan, might enter Georgia as well. The government officials also expect such a scenario.
A well-informed source in Georgian State Security Ministry told the Civil Georgia that the Ministry is preparing for the influx of Iraqi refugees from Azerbaijan.
“We do not rule out the possibility of arrival of the Iraqi refugees to Georgia,” Gakhokidze, the told Civil Georgia on March 20.
“However I think it is less possible that the Iraqi refugees will reach Georgia, as we have no common border with Iraq. But in case of influx of Iraqi refugees Georgia will act in accordance to the international law,” he added.
Commander of the Staff of the Border Guard Department Korneli Salia told Civil Georgia today “there are no special preparations in the Department regarding the possible entry of Iraqi refugees to Georgia”.
The Georgian government hopes that Tbilisi’s support to the US administration would ultimately lead to active involvement of the United States in resolution of the Abkhazian conflict in Georgia’s favor. “The Americans told us to give them some time and then they would deal with the Abkhazian issue as well,” President Shevardnadze said on March 20, while commenting importance of Georgia’s support to the United States.
By Giorgi Sepashvili, Civil Georgia
