MPs Endorse Georgian Troop Deployment in Iraq

The Georgian Parliament gave its formal go-ahead on November 9 to the deployment of additional Georgian troops to Iraq as a part of the coalition forces, with a 148-1 vote.

300 Georgian servicemen left for Iraq on November 8 to replace the 159-strong unit, which has been serving as part of the coalition forces in Iraq since April of this year.

?It is quite natural that Georgia stands beside its friend ? the United States,? Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at a parliamentary session on November 9.

Georgia, which committed to send a total of 850 troops to Iraq to serve in the protection forces of the UN Mission, is sending those servicemen who were trained by U.S. military instructors within frames of the Georgia Train-and-Equip Program (GTEP) to serve in Iraq.