Saakashvili Vows to Increase Pace of Modernization of Army

The pace of the Georgian army?s ?modernization will increase significantly? this year to create ?modern armed forces,? President Saakashvili said on April 2.

Saakashvili was speaking at the military base in Senaki, to a group of students undergoing 18-days of training as part of their compulsory military service obligations.

?Today Georgia is ready to have at least a 100,000-strong, well-equipped and well-trained reserve army,? Saakashvili said.

He said that every citizen should ?know how to handle weapons and if necessary should be ready to repel aggression.?

?This should become our major message to our ill-wishers,? he added.

?I served two years with the Soviet elite troops, but I want to tell you that last year when I spent 10 days with the reserves I learnt much more about how to handle arms,? Saakashvili stated.

He also said that there are ?long queues? of those willing to be enlisted in the reserves, which meant that ?much has changed? in Georgia in recent years.

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