Mission Tbilisi welcomed Colonel Chad Koenig, Commander, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), who led a team from Washington to evaluate WRAIR’s efforts in Georgia.  WRAIR staff work closely with their Georgian counterparts at Lugar Center to monitor circulating and emerging infectious disease threats across Georgia and the region. The work this combined team does was integral in helping Georgia’s @NCDC respond to COVID-19.

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi 

Within the frames of the Munich Security Conference, Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria held a bilateral meeting with the Commander of United States Army Europe Lieutenant-General Christopher Cavoli.

Levan Izoria discussed with Lieutenant-General Cavoli the transformation process of the Georgian Defense Forces and focused on the ongoing Georgian Defence Readiness Program. Minister Izoria also emphasized on the importance the Combat Training Center - another significant project of the US-Georgian cooperation. As Minister declared, further enhancement of the Combat Training Center and renewal of the relevant infrastructure is planned in Vaziani, Krtsanisi, Algeti and Norio, which alongside with the Georgian Defence Forces will be used by the military personnel of NATO member and partner countries for conducting readiness-oriented exercises.

The meeting also covered multinational trainings. As Levan Izoria noted, next month, Georgia will host NATO-Georgia Exercise for the second time, which is another demonstration of Georgia's enhanced capabilities and increasing trust from the allies towards Georgia. Sides also discussed multinational exercise Agile Spirit 2019 scheduled in Georgia for summer.

Speaking about cooperation with NATO, Levan Izoria focused on a new approach - Strategic Readiness, which aims developing resilient territorial defence forces in line with NATO standards.

“We have a good common objective, which is to strengthen our defense and how we build more peace and security together”, - this was the message from the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation SACT General Denis Mercier declared after meeting with the Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria. 

After the official welcome ceremony at the headquarter of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces General Denis Mercier held meetings with the Georgian Defence Minister and Chief of General Staff of GAF. 

Levan Izoria thanked General Mercier for the steadfast political and practical support of NATO towards Georgia and introduced implemented and ongoing defence reforms to him which are directed at strengthening the defence capabilities of Georgia and bring Georgia closer to NATO. 

According to the Defence Minister, visit of General Denis Mercier to Georgia demonstrates the support of the North Atlantic Alliance to the NATO aspirant country - Georgia. 

During the meeting the sides talked about the progress Georgia achieved on the path towards NATO integration. Special focus was made on implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), in particular on NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) which is closely cooperating with the NATO Allied Command Transformation.

West Command of Land Forces of GAF has a new commander. Today Deputy Chief of General Staff, Colonel Shalva Jabakhidze presented new Commander, Colonel Giorgi Matiashvili to the personnel of West Command in II Infantry Brigade in Senaki and wished him success in his future career.
“We will continue implementation of the reforms to strengthen combat readiness and military discipline defined under the Strategic Defense Review in order to successfully fulfill tasks set for West Command”, outlined Colonel Giorgi Matiashvili during the meeting with the personnel. The leadership of West Command pledged every support to the new commander in transformation process.
The post of West Commander was free up to January 10. High selection council selected Colonel Giorgi Matiashvili for this post.
Colonel Giorgi Matiashvili has been serving in the Georgian Armed Forces since 1998. After graduation of Joint Military Academy he started service as platoon commander of military operations preparation center. He worked on different posts in J-3 Operative Planning Department of General Staff in various times. Prior to appointment as West Commander, he was deputy of East Commander. He has taken military education in Canada and Germany as well.