News Release of the U.S. Department of Defense
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The Department of Defense today announced the beginning of the Georgia Train and Equip program (GTEP). This program implements President Bush's decision to respond to Government of Georgia's request for assistance to enhance its counter-terrorism capabilities and address the situation in the Pankisi Gorge. This effort will complement other counter-terrorism efforts around the globe and will increase stability in the Caucasus.
A flexible, time-phased training initiative, GTEP builds upon the strong military-to-military relationship developed between the two countries since the end of the Cold War, and further underscores U.S. support for Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Selected members of SOCEUR will conduct the GTEP. A SOCEUR site survey team of approximately 20 people departed for Georgia today to coordinate GTEP logistical requirements. Included in the team are logistics, contracting, and communications personnel. Once this groundwork is accomplished, the main body of instructors will arrive, and the initial program of instruction will begin shortly thereafter.
The initial program will consist of command center staff training for members of the Georgian Ministry of Defense as well as staff training for units of the Land Forces Command. Border Guards and other Georgian security agencies will be included to ensure interoperability among Georgia's security forces. The program's goal is to build strong and effective staff organizations capable of creating and sustaining standardized operating procedures, training plans, operational plans, and a property accounting system. The curriculum will consist of performance-oriented training and practical exercises similar to those taught at the National Defense University, Joint Forces Command, and U.S. Army War College. Staff training is designed to last approximately 70 days and will be conducted in a small group, classroom setting.
In addition to staff training, tactical training will be provided sequentially and will consist of approximately 100 days per unit. The goal of the tactical program is to instruct Georgian battalions in light infantry tactics, to include platoon-level offensive and defensive operations and basic airmobile tactics. The curriculum for the tactics training will include basic individual skills, such as combat lifesaver, radio operator procedures, land navigation, and human rights education. It will also include individual combat skills, such as rifle marksmanship, individual movement techniques, and squad and platoon tactics.
During GTEP, military equipment is slated for transfer to Georgia. Equipment includes uniform items, small arms and ammunition, communications gear, training gear, medical gear, fuel, and construction materiel.
Georgia and the United States remain solid partners dedicated to the promotion of peace and stability in the Caucasus region.
Statement by Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones on US-European Relations,
House International Relations Committee, Sub-Committee on Europe, Washington D.C., 13 March 2002
In the Caucasus, we are working with Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. We seek a comprehensive settlement through the Minsk Group peace process. Georgian sovereignty is important to the Administration. We are proposing a program to develop Georgia’s internal capacity to deal with terrorism now and in the future. We also are working to support the development of democracy and human rights in the Caucasus.
Statement by H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan at EAPC Summit
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Colleagues,
World nowadays is going through an extremely complex situation. International terrorism, backed up by some states, poses a challenge to the global law and order, tries to set up new confrontation lines on the basis of the ideology of extremism, aggressive nationalism and militant separatism, aspires to carry out new revision of borders.
International system is under a serious test of the ability to effectively counter this common menace. Right after the tragedy of 11 September the Euro-Atlantic community has set up the anti-terror coalition that Azerbaijan joined from day one. Today, in cooperation with other countries and international organizations, we continue to do our utmost to counter these threats. Their nature and scale render all, including geographical, limitations for joint and comprehensive fight within the NATO/EAPC framework irrelevant.
However, the threat had been there even before 11 September. Hotbeds of terrorism and organized crime linked with it are shaped in conflict zones and in the territories uncontrolled by legitimate authorities as a result of wars triggered by the policies of aggressive nationalism and violent separatism. The region of South Caucasus is the most vulnerable in this regard.
Waging an implacable fight against international terrorism and extremism, Azerbaijan directs its main efforts towards the goal of liberating of its territories from Armenian occupation, restoring law and order there. Resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh meets the interests of all states of the Euro-Atlantic partnership. While it is not late, international community must undertake all possible efforts to achieve peaceful settlement of the conflict on the basis of full restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in accordance with the norms and principles of international law. ,
Azerbaijan, considering Partnership with NATO as the basis of future Euro-Atlantic security system, aspires to integrational partnership and intensified bilateral dialogue with the Alliance. Here I would like to emphasize the increased interdependency between Members of the Alliance and Partners as well as the need to take better account of Partners' interests and requirements.
We note increased attention on the part of NATO toward South Caucasus. However, any regional initiatives and proposals must, in the first place, be aimed at the liquidation of consequences of wars and restoration of internationally recognized borders between states.
We note with satisfaction the evolution of new relationship between NATO and Russia that could have considerable significance in elimination of crises in various regions of Europe.
I congratulate states that have been invited to join the Alliance, and note the commitment of NATO to the open door policy.
Mr. Chairman.
Goals ahead of us demand tremendous efforts. However, we ought not back off and must always keep in mind our solemn duty - to leave after us a secure and stable world for next generations.
Thank you for your attention.
Statement by Georgian President E. Shevarnadze at the EAPC Summit Meeting, Prague, 22 November 2002.
Anyone who has spent at least a week in Georgia knows well that by virtue of the dynamic development of the civil society, practically every problem of serious concern becomes here a subject of heated public debate. Yet, I can also assure you that perhaps the only issue in the recent years against which no reasonable argument has ever been suggested is the Georgian public's perspective on the future of the country's national security which is widely seen in the context of the country's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. I am happy that at the Summit of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council I can declare that Georgia is determined to be a full member of NATO and is resolved to work hard to prepare for this historic mission.
For a country like Georgia this is not a short road, yet not as long as it seemed only a couple of years ago. This is evidenced among other things by the State Program for the Euro-Atlantic Integration developed by the National Security Council of Georgia, the ongoing reform of the Georgian army consistent with the standards NATO demands, as well as by the units trained under the American-Georgian Train and Equip program that will eventually form the main body of the streamlined Georgian armed forces. Also I am fully convinced that the engagement in the Individual Partnership Action Plan will create incentive for Georgia to accelerate and more boldly pursue political, economic and military reforms. We also realize that the admissions will be reserved only for those countries that aside from expecting to be defended and assisted by the Alliance, will at the same time be in a position to contribute to a full range of its missions by safeguarding and promoting the Euro-Atlantic values in their respective regions.
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full text:
Statement by President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze at the EAPC Summit
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and gentlemen,
All of us - the allied and partner nations - who have gathered here in Prague are witnessing a defining moment in the fundamental transformation of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Georgia attributes vital importance to this transformation and regards two of its elements as possessing special significance. One is continuing to adapt NATO to deal with the challenges of the new international environment which above all implies effective action to counter a new set of dangers in whatever ways they manifest themselves. The other is NATO's further enlargement.
I believe that the creation of NATO's new Rapid Reaction Force is a very timely and necessary initiative to achieve the first objective, namely the prevention of possible future terrorist- acts and elimination of the sources that foster terrorism, such as religious fanaticism, aggressive separatism and extremist nationalism. The so called "white spots'' that emerge as a result of aggressive separatist activities, often turn into nidi of terrorist infection. Georgia as an active member of the Partnership for Peace program stands ready to cooperate fully with the Alliance to address this problem in our region which happens to be an outpost of a civilization that regards freedom and humanism, in the widest possible sense, as its central values.
Georgia's future as an independent nation is hinged on obtaining firm guarantees for the-protection of these very values and we, therefore, strongly welcome further eastward expansion of the Alliance. We congratulate all those nations that have been invited to become full members of NATO or will be offered to join in the very" near future. As the president of a Black Sea state, I am particularly satisfied that the invitations have been extended to Romania and Bulgaria. This brings the Black Sea area into NATO's sphere of interests and adds a new dimension to its security.
We welcome the progress in deepening the cooperation between NATO and Russia and the distinctive partnership that has been forged between NATO and Ukraine since we regard these developments as a cornerstone not only of the Euro-Atlantic, but also of global security.
South-East Europe, particularly the Caucasus region has been gaining ever greater importance for the entire continent and the Euro-Atlantic community at large. The region serves as a major outlet for the Caspian hydrocarbons to world markets and at the same time provides the shortest routes linking the West to the natural wealth, labor and markets in Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Far East. The same routes, however carry the risk of becoming thoroughfares for the spread of new transnational threats, different from those of the past including threats posed by terrorism. We, therefore, consider that the region of the South Caucasus and Central Asia, indeed merits the special attention the Alliance has shown by deepening cooperation with it.
Anyone who has spent at least a week in Georgia knows well that by virtue of the dynamic development of the civil society, practically every problem of serious concern becomes here a subject of heated public debate. Yet, I can also assure you that perhaps the only issue in the recent years against which no reasonable argument has ever been suggested is the Georgian public's perspective on the future of the country's national security which is widely seen in the context of the country's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. I am happy that at the Summit of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council I can declare that Georgia is determined to be a full member of NATO and is resolved to work hard to prepare for this historic mission.
For a country like Georgia this is not a short road, yet not as long as it seemed only a couple of years ago. This is evidenced among other things by the State Program for the Euro-Atlantic Integration developed by the National Security Council of Georgia, the ongoing reform of the Georgian army consistent with the standards NATO demands, as well as by the units trained under the American-Georgian Train and Equip program that will eventually form the main body of the streamlined Georgian armed forces. Also I am fully convinced that the engagement in the Individual Partnership Action Plan will create incentive for Georgia to accelerate and more boldly pursue political, economic and military reforms. We also realize that the admissions will be reserved only for those countries that aside from expecting to be defended and assisted by the Alliance, will at the same time be in a position to contribute to a full range of its missions by safeguarding and promoting the Euro-Atlantic values in their respective regions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
ue to historical vicissitudes, my people have for centuries been cut off from the western civilization although it always saw its rightful place there. I know that every citizen of Georgia is looking to the meeting in Prague with great hope since this Summit indeed marks a turning point for my country and people for whom democracy and freedom are supreme values.
Finally, let me extend my sincere thanks to President Havel for his hospitality in hosting this event.
Thank you very much for your attention.
NATO Press Release
2 October 2002
A memorandum of understanding on logistic cooperation was signed by the Georgian Foreign Minister H.E Irakli Menagarishvili and NAMSO, represented by Mr Peter D. Markey, General Manager of the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA). The signature took place on the occasion of the visit by H.E. Irakli Mengarishvilli to meet Lord Robertson at NATO Headquarters on 1 October 2002.
The memorandum of understanding concluded between Georgia and NAMSO opens the way for the implementation of a Partnership for Peace Trust Fund Project for the demilitarisation and disposal of missile stockpiles and the remediation of Georgian military sites.
This Partnership for Peace project is led by Luxembourg. Costs for the project are estimated to be in excess of EUR 1,250,000 .
In addition to the contribution in kind by the Georgian authorities, financial support will be provided by Luxembourg and other NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.
Under the NAMSA plan, material assistance and training will be provided to carry out the safe disposal of missile stockpiles and the remediation of a former military site close to the capital, Tbilisi. This site of 10,000 hectares will be cleared of unexploded ordnance by a group of former military engineers of the Georgian Army. The area will be handed back to the local population for agricultural use.
This is the fourth project initiated under the PfP Trust Fund initiative. NAMSA is currently overseeing PfP Trust Fund projects to ensure the destruction of surplus ordnance in Ukraine and Moldova, having earlier this year completed the destruction of 1.6 million anti-personnel landmines in Albania.
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NATO HQ Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
Dear Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we see off the last days of this century our present session gives us another opportunity to take stock of our cooperation within EAPC and PfP frameworks and to discuss its unique role for the Euro-Atlantic security.
Risks and threats that Euro-Atlantic community faces on the threshold of the new millennium require our joint and adequate efforts without setting geographic or other priorities and limits.
The value of practical cooperation between NATO and partner countries to achieve goals of building a free and undivided Europe could hardly be overestimated in this regard. The Alliance-led peace-support operation in the Kosovo region to which Azerbaijan has contributed is undoubtedly a vivid example of the genuine partnership.
The multiplicity and complexity of challenges that Euro-Atlantic security encounters necessitates the elaboration and development of joint crisis management capabilities. In the context of further evolution of the theory and practice of the NATO-led peacekeeping operations in the whole Euro-Atlantic area Azerbaijan welcomes further practical steps on the side of NATO to complete work on implementation of the Political Military Framework. We also appreciate progress achieved in realization of the Operational Capabilities Concept.
In light of the recent visit by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to NATO Headquarters I would also like to stress that Azerbaijan attaches importance to the development of inter-institutional cooperation between NATO/EAPC and OSCE. in particular in the fields of conflict prevention and crisis management.
As it has been the case in the past. with regard to the future agenda of EAPC, we reiterate our proposal to start discussing issues related to conventional arms control in the EAPC framework on a more regular and substantive basis. I presume that putting current problems in this field on the EAPC agenda would help better utilize our forum's potential and expertise as well as complement work done in other organisations and fora. In this regard Azerbaijan commends efforts of the ad hoc group on the challenges of Small Arms and Light Weapons whose success has highlighted the necessity of reinvigorating the EAPC discussions on arms control topic in general.
While aiming at progressive integration with NATO Azerbaijan intends to join the Membership Action Plan. With this goal in mind we look forward to having a suggested intensified bilateral dialogue with NATO.
Mr.Chairman,
Azerbaijan welcomes an increased interest of NATO to the region of South Caucasus. A number of activities, including the seminar on energy security in Baky have been held in the region as a follow-up to the work of the EAPC ad hoc group on the South Caucasus.
In the meantime, unlike the Balkans. where substantial progress has been made in bringing crises to the stage of comprehensive settlement. the South Caucasus still remains the region of unresolved conflicts and undermined security. In this context allow me to re-emphasize that only just, comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan will restore mutual trust between these two states and consequently pave the way to regional cooperation between all states in the South Caucasus.
In this respect we would appreciate if political, security related and crisis management issues, as suggested by Azerbaijan, could win the understanding in the group.
Due to its geographic location South Caucasus should serve as one of the building blocks of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. Allow me to recall in this regard an initiative to develop Security and Cooperation Pact for this region as proposed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Heydar Aliyev at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in November 1999 and to reiterate our appeal to all interested partners to participate in the practical implementation of this idea.
With regard to the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I regret to report lack of progress in achieving its settlement, while twenty percent of the territory of my country are still under occupation of armed forces of Armenia and one million Azerbaijanis still cannot return to their homes.
Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group continue to pay visits to the region. The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia hold regular bilateral meetings with the aim to find a formula of durable settlement. But. all these efforts have not yet yielded concrete results.
Availing myself of this opportunity I would like to reconfirm the adherence of Azerbaijan to a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group on the basis of conferring the highest degree of self-rule upon the Nagorno-Karabakh region within the Republic of Azerbaijan and co-existence of Armenian and Azerbaijani populations there.
In conclusion, allow me to emphasize that Azerbaijan proceeding from an assessment of the current situation in the South Caucasus counts on a considerable contribution by NATO to establishing security and stability in this vital region.
Thank you.