Defense Minister: U.S. to Continue Military Assistance for Georgia

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said at a news briefing on November 2 that the United States will continue its military assistance programs for the Georgian army.

?These assistance programs will be directed towards the creation of a Georgian peacekeeping contingent, which will operate both inside of the country as well as in the international arena, to secure peace and fight terrorism,? Giorgi Baramidze stated; however, Baramidze did not said anything about the details of the assistance programs.

The Defense Minister also said that Georgia will be more actively involved in the coalition forces operations in Iraq. He said that Georgia will send more troops to Iraq ?in the nearest future.?

Spokesman for the U.S. Department of State Adam Ereli said at a news briefing on November 1 that the Georgian authorities are considering sending extra troops to Iraq, adding that the United States ?welcomes Georgia?s important and valued contribution? to the coalition forces there.

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze told reporters, upon his arrival from Iraq on September 7, that Georgia will increase the number of its troops stationed in Iraq from from the current 159 to 300. According to Baramidze sending extra troops to Iraq was scheduled for October, but it has not happened yet.