Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Georgia has decided to deploy its troops in Afghanistan long with the US Marines to support the NATO’s new mission called Resolute Support.
A ceremony in this connection was held last Tuesday at Vaziani Training Area, not far from Russia’s border. The ceremony was attended by Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Tbilisi Nicholas Berliner, and deputy commander of US Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, Brig. Gen. Norman L. Cooling.
Chief of Defense of Georgian Armed Forces, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, told his troops that they were well-trained, experienced and prepared to perform their new job efficiently in Afghanistan.
Despite strained relations between the European Union and Russia, Georgia is major contributor to the NATO’s post-2014 mission in Afghanistan, in terms of troop size. “We don’t [get] the chance to choose our country, to choose our neighbors, or to choose when we serve… but by supporting international security, you guarantee the safety and security of your own country,” Kapanadze said.
Georgia has deployed entire battalion annually to support the US-led ISAF mission since 2010. NATO’s new mission was launched this year in January. The Resolute Support Mission includes 14 NATO members and partner nations contributing more than 12,000 personnel to train, advice and assist the Afghan National Security Forces.
Deputy Commander of the US Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, Brig. Gen. Norman L. Cooling, said: “It is truly impressive how far we have come together as a team in our ability to prosecute a mission on behalf of NATO and the international coalition.”
Cooling said the Georgian battalion which is going to be deployed in Afghanistan has trained well and is among the “most sophisticated of any forces”.
