Georgia Denies Suspension of Arms Supply from Israel

In a statement issued on February 20 the Georgian Foreign Ministry denied media reports regarding the suspension of arms supply to Georgia from Israel.

?According to media reports Israel has ceased delivery of arms and military equipment to Georgia as a result of pressure mounted by the Russian leadership. [These media reports] indicated, that the probability of seizure of these arms by Chechen terrorists was the reason of this decision. The Georgian Foreign Ministry states that the issue of suspension of arms delivery from Israel has never become the subject of either Georgian-Russian negotiations nor Russian-Israel talks. Hence, [this] report is not true,? the Georgian Foreign Ministry statement reads.

The news about suspension of arms being delivered from Israel broke after the Russian-language internet site ISRAland reported on it on February 20.

Last July Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili visited Israel and expressed a desire to boost military cooperation between the two countries.

The Georgian Aircraft Factory is producing four modifications of the Su 25 battle support aircraft. The most modern modification is Su 25 ?Scorpio,? which is designed in cooperation with Israeli Elbit Systems, which develops advanced defense electronic systems.

Some unofficial reports indicate that Georgia has already procured Tavor assault rifles from Israel.