Although there is “little possibility” of open military aggression against Georgia, the country faces internal threats from “separatist forces” and the continuing presence of Russian forces on Georgian soil, a paper outlining new Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili’s priorities for 2007 says.
The document, which was posted on the Defense Ministry’s web-site on December 8, sets the development of NATO-interoperable armed forces as a major priority.
Ex-chief of Financial Police Davit Kezerashvili became Defense Minister on November 10, replacing Irakli Okruashvili. He has has become even more media-shy since his appointment. In the only, very brief interview that he has given, broadcasted by Rustavi 2 TV on November 12, Kezerashvili said that the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity remains the top priority.
The document, under the name “Minister’s Vision for 2007,” says that the Georgian government is committed to seek “peaceful diplomatic solutions to resolve the ongoing separatist issues and the eventual removal of Russian forces” – two aspects that are considered major internal threats and risks.
The document uses the general term “Russian forces” apparently to refer more to the peacekeeping troops stationed in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zones than to troops stationed on the Russian military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, which are in the process of withdrawal.
Access to resources, particularly energy supplies; drug, weapon and human trafficking; as well as natural or ecological disasters are also outlined as internal threats and risks.
Georgia remains committed to continue participation in international peacekeeping and stabilization operations in 2007, according to the document. Currently, Georgia has about 850 of its elite troops in Iraq and represents one of the most significant contributors to the coalition forces in terms of a country’s per capita troop deployment.
As part of the NATO integration process, the document prioritizes setting up NATO-interoperable management structures, a transparent budget, as well as improved air defense and surveillance systems to facilitate Air Situation Data Exchange (ASDE) with NATO.
The Ministry also plans to complete a Strategic Defense Review next year to define options for 2007-2015 Force Structure to meet threats and challenges and taking into consideration the available resources.
The Defense Ministry sets improved reserve training and mobilization systems as further priorities for 2007. The new reserve system will be part of “a doctrine on total and unconditional defense” that has recently been included as a new provision to Georgia’s National Security Concept.
The Georgian Parliament approved at its first hearing a proposal on the creation of a system of compulsory army reserve service on December 8.
18-day-long training courses in the reserve troops will be compulsory for every male between the ages of 27 and 40. A person can avoid compulsory service in the reserve troops through spending 180, or 200 hours working in alternative service, according to the draft law. In case of evasion, a person will be fined GEL 1000. If the evasion is repeated a second time the person will be jailed for one year.
The law will not apply to teachers, doctors, technical staff of the railway, judges, diplomats, clergy and employees of the Defense and Interior Ministries, or those who have already served in the alternative services.
The Ministry of Defense will now develop a program of training and recruitment schedule.
In his vision for 2007, the new Defense Minister has also pledged to improve the public information system, involving cooperation with mass-media, NGOs and academic institutions. Lack of transparency was one of the major criticisms of Ex-Defense Minister Okruashvili.
