MoD Lays Out Priorities for 2009
The Georgian Defense Ministry released a document outlining its key tasks for 2009 saying that priorities are laid out with having in mind “fast changing security environment” and “need for defense from possible military aggression.”
The document with the name “the Minister’s Vision – 2009” also says that it reflects “immediate measures dictated by the post-war reality.” According to the document, the MoD plans “to institutionalize” process of comprehensive analysis and study of “lessons learned” from the August war, in order “to eradicate shortcomings.” The document says that a new concept on reserve troops will be elaborated based on the experience gained from the August war.
Unlike previous documents of this type – outlining former Defense Ministers’ visions, this year’s paper does not contain a separate chapter about threats and risks; the previous documents in this regard were based on threat assessment paper, which said that there was “little possibility” of open military aggression against Georgia. Although there is no separate chapter on the matter, the Minister’s Vision-2009 mentions “the need for defense from possible military aggression.”
Increasing the Georgian armed forces’ air defense and anti-tank capabilities are set among key priorities in the document.
It also says that efforts will be made to increase the armed forces’ command and control; C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities, as well as communication systems and information security and “to institutionalize” planning, programming and budgeting system (PPBS).
According to the document, Georgia plans to revise its Strategic Defense Review (SDR), approved in November, 2007, this year. SDR represents a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the country’s defence capabilities, and provides guidance for the defence system transformation process until 2015.
The document also says that Georgia’s NATO integration remains “one of the major priorities of foreign and security policy.”
“In this regard,” the document reads, “interoperability of the Georgian armed forces with NATO represents the MoD one of the major priorities, which envisages undertaking measures for establishment of NATO interoperable, modern and expeditionary forces.”
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)