The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has attended the handover ceremony of the Chief of General Staff of Georgian Armed Forces at the military base of Vaziani. The ceremony was celebrated for the first time in the history of Georgian Armed Forces. The President has participated in the flag presentation ceremony. Vakhtang Kapanadze, the former Chief of General Staff of Georgian Armed Forces has officially passed the flag of Georgian Armed Forces to Vladimir Chachibaia and handed over his position.
"The most important is to win the war without fight and bloodshed. Our Armed Forces should be prepared to deter our enemy from violating our country’s borders'', - addressed the President to General Chachibaia and thanked General Kapanadze for his commitment in serving the homeland.
“I would like to congratulate you on the occasion of St. George’s Day! It is symbolic that we have gathered here on this celebration with Georgian Armed Forces. These are the people who best symbolize our country and nation; they symbolize the triumph over evil with power of kindness, military dignity, and faith.
Today we have taken another step forward in the institutional development of Georgian Armed Forces. I would like to thank General Kapanadze for his commitment in serving our homeland and charge General Chachibaia with a new mission and responsibility.
Mr. General Chachibaia, you have to fulfil a very important mission. You are an inheritor of amazing military traditions and the head of those militaries, who have carried the flag of dignity in Afghanistan and other international missions. You are the head of the Armed Forces, facing the most difficult mission in the region.
I am confident that you, along with Georgian militaries, will advance this significant mission and greatly contribute to the victory of our country. I wish you success at this position! God bless Georgia! '', - stated the President at the ceremony.
The ceremony at Vaziani was also attended by the Head of the Administration of the President of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the advisors to the President and the members of the diplomatic corp.

The 27th of September is a day of fall of Sokhumi. Together with the members of executive body, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Defence Minister Levan Izoria and Chief of General Staff of the GAF, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze paid a wreath at the memorial of Georgian heroes fallen for Georgia’s territorial integrity. The representatives of the Georgian government once more commemorated the heroes and honored their memory.
“I respect all our heroes who fell for Georgia’s territorial integrity. Sokhumi, Abkhazia is a part of our national identity. I am sure with smart policy we are able to live peacefully with Abkhazians and provide dignified future for our children”, stated Defence Minister Levan Izoria.
Following the memorial at Hero Square, Defence Minister visited Vashlijvari Brotherhood Cemetery. Together with the representatives of the General Staff, Levan Izoria laid flowers on the tombs of the warriors fallen in Abkhazian War. 
23 years passed after the fall of Sokhumi. Military controversy launched in Abkhazia on August 14, 1992. The conflict lasted for 13 months and 13 days. 

Farewell ceremony of the Georgian peacekeepers to Afghanistan was held at IV Mechanized Brigade in Vaziani. The 32ndBattalion of the III Infantry Brigade, the 51st Battalion of the V Infantry Brigade, as well as platoons of National Guard and Military Police Department are leaving for Afghanistan.
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili attended the farewell ceremony. Defence Minister of Georgia Levan Izoria and U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly went to Vaziani with their family members. Chief of General Staff of the GAF, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze and other officials of MoD attended the event as well.
“Today we are attending a very excited ceremony. One more part of the Georgian Armed Forces is leaving for Afghanistan to carry out international mission. Among you are the military, you brothers-in-arm who have already performed the mission in Afghanistan. You will fight shoulder-to-shoulder in order to provide global peace and security. You will continue traditions of those Georgians who served their motherland and global security. Today, at your farewell ceremony, we are very proud as our small country has so many heroes”, stated President of Georgia while addressing.
At his speech Defence Minister highlighted contribution of the Georgian military for the global peace and wished the peacekeepers peaceful return to Georgia.
“Each Georgian has special attitude and respect towards the mission you have to carry out in Afghanistan. We are example with our high level of cooperation and partnership, we show ourselves in Afghanistan. I have seen myself in Afghanistan the mission you perform; therefore we all are proud of you. I am sure you will continue this best tradition in Afghanistan. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to your family members, your parents for their support. You continue combat spirit of Georgian gene. We pray for you to return in Georgia peacefully”, addressed Defence Minister to the Georgian soldiers.
Chief of General Staff of the GAF emphasized the professionalism and experience of the Georgian soldiers. “Approximately 75 percent of this contingent has already participated in the mission in Afghanistan. I am sure their experience will be very productive for them. I am also sure that our military will more raise a name of Georgian soldier. Georgian military always perform their obligations on high standards”, outlined Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze.
The event included transfer of combat flag ceremony. Military orchestra of National Guard performed national Anthem. The military and invited guests honored with a minute of silence to the soldiers fallen for Georgian territorial integrity and in international missions. At the end of the event, the chaplain blessed the peacekeepers.
The 32nd Battalion will replace the 52nd Battalion and will provide the security on Bagram Air Base. The soldiers of the 51st Battalion will replace the 42nd Battalion and defend RS HQ in Kabul.
Georgian military servicemen will perform the Resolute Support mission within seven months. Before leaving for Afghanistan they underwent pre-deployment training first in Georgia, then on Wildflecken and Hamelburg military bases in Germany. 

The delegation from the National Guard of Ukraine is paying a visit to Georgia. Led by the Commander of the National Guard, Lieutenant-General Yuriy Allerov the members of the delegation visited the National Guard of Georgia today.
The Ukrainian guests were welcomed by an official ceremony on the drill-ground of the National Guard. The Military Orchestra of the Georgian Armed Forces played the National Anthems of Georgia and Ukraine.
The official ceremony was followed by the meeting with the Chief of the Georgian National Guard Brigadier General Levan Gamkrelidze. He informed the Ukrainian colleague about the history of the Georgia National Guard. The sides also discussed the participation of the National Guard Company in international missions, ongoing reforms and perspectives of future cooperation.
The Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze also received the Ukrainian delegation. The main topics of discussion were reformation process in the Georgian Armed Forces, future cooperation and sharing experience.
In the framework of the visit the delegation from the National Guard of Ukraine will also visit the 20th Cadre Brigade in Telavi, Armor Tank Training Center in Akhaltsikhe, Sachkhere Mountain Training School and Giorgi Antsukhelidze NCO Training Center.

In the frames of planned session at September, 15 the National Security Council of Georgia publishes information. Two main issues will be discussed on session.
“The National Security Council of Georgia will hold a meeting on September, 15 at 16:00 p.m. at President’s Palace. Two main issues will be discussed: To determine the number of military forces in 2017 and the plans of Defence Ministry,”-it is said in the statement of National Security Council of Georgia.
According to reports, Levan Izoria the Defence Minister and General Mayor Vakhtang Kapanadze will be presenters.

The multinational military exercise Agile Spirit 2016 has started today on Orpolo firing range in Akhaltsikhe. Chief of General Staff, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze opened the international exercise and congratulated the Georgian and foreign military personnel on the beginning of training.
“It is a great honor for me to open this exercise.  I am very delightful that our brothers from Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and the U.S. Navy Forces are here with us.  I am very glad that people represented here and their countries appreciate peace. This training is a symbol that Georgia, Urkaine, Romania, Bulgaria and the U.S. are not standing alone and we are doing great job. Heroism does not have nationality and religion. I am very glad that friendship will be forged here that is very important for future success,” said General Kapanadze.
The representatives of the Georgian Armed Forces and local government of Samtskhe-Javakheti region attended the official opening ceremony. Following the official part of event, Chief of General Staff got familiar with the infrastructure of the exercise and was briefed by the Exercise Commander Colonel Malkhaz Makaradze about the scheduled activities and future plans within Agile Spirit 2016.
The military exercise is conducted by the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces and the U.S. Marines. Participating nations of the exercise also are: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and   Latvia.
The goal of the exercises is to maintain and strengthen relations with the U.S. and partner countries, support the regional security, improve defensive and offensive operation skills.
Agile Spirit 2016 includes the command post and field exercises.  The CPX will start on the territory of the IV Mechanized Brigade in Vaziani on September 3. The exercise will be officially closed on September 9.

The First Deputy Minister of Defence of Georgia Lela Chikovani met with the Chief of Defence of the Republic of Finland, Lieutenant-General Jarmo Lindberg. The Chief of General Staff of Georgia, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze, Georgia’s Defence Attaché to the Republic of Finland,  Finland’s Defence Attaché to Georgia and othe members of the delegation attended the meeting as well.
The sides discussed the future prospects of cooperation between Georgia and the Republic of Finland in the field of Defence. Both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation and focused on exchange of information in intelligence sphere, cyber security, reserve and mobilization issues.
Lela Chikovani briefed the guests about the planned reforms at the Ministry of Georgia. She got interested in the Finnish model of defence system and talked about the importance of sharing experience. The regional security environment was also discussed at the meeting.
Chief of Defence of the Republic of Finland pays an official visit to Georgia for the first time hosted by his Georgian colleague Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze. The official welcoming ceremony was held in front of the headquarters of the General Staff.  

Representatives of the US European Command visited the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. The Chief of the General Staff, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze and Deputy Defence Minister Besik Loladze hosted American guests. The visit was organized within the framework of the preparation process of the US-Georgian joint military exercise “Jackal Stone”. The purpose of the visit is to meet with the officials of the agencies involved in training and planning of the future activities.
The participants of the meeting emphasized the importance of the joint military exercises and noted that similar trainings always have practical and political consequences. Special attention was paid to the recently conducted military exercise “Noble Partner 16”.
“Very important delegation arrived in Georgia. Their task is to verify the correctness and timely preparation of the international interagency training. Both Georgian and the US governmental agencies are involved in the training. This exercise will be a good test to find out how effective is our crisis management system and what should we do improve the system,” – Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze said.
Exercise “Jackal Stone” is scheduled to be held in August. Up to 500 servicemen of the US European Command and the Special Operational Command will participate in the training. Over 130 representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service of Georgia will be involved in the exercise. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia will provide logistical support. The scenario includes the anti-terrorism and police operations. Transport and reconnaissance aviation elements will be actively used during exercise.

By the organization of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and the World Baseball Softball Confederation, a friendly match was conducted between Georgia`s National Team and the U.S. Marine Corps Team “Warriors” at Mikheil Meskhi stadium.
The Georgian team defeated the US Marine Corps Team with the score 8:3 in the competition dedicated to the warriors wounded and killed in action during international peacekeeping missions.
Chief of the GS of the GAF Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, Ambassador of the United States to Georgia Ian C. Kelly , the Georgian military servicemen wounded in battles for the territorial integrity of Georgia and in international operations, the representatives of Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia and World Baseball Softball Confederation attended the friendly match.
After 12 years of interval, baseball and softball are still returning to the big family of sport at “Tokyo 2020” Olympic Games. This match is significant for Georgian team in terms of gaining experience. After a month The Georgia’s National Baseball Team will go to the qualification tournament of European Championship. Engagement of the society in similar events and support of the warriors who made sacrifice for the welfare of the people and were wounded in battles and peacekeeping operations, though trying to maintain motivation and combat spirit is critically important.The friendly match between the Georgia`s National and Youth Baseball Teams and U.S. Marine Corps Team is conducted for already 6 years.

The Seminar “Hybrid War and Expected Threats” opened in the Professional Development Centre of Davit Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy. Chief of the General Staff of the GAF Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze addressed the participants and highlighted  the course significance. Major General Vakhtang Kapoanadze delivered the lecture on the “Hybrid War and Challenges Faced by the Modern World” as well as focused on the specifics of the hybrid warfare and the means of combating it.
The representatives of ministries of Defence, Internal Affairs and National Security Council are taking part in the training.  During the course the attendees will obtain the information on the core of informational operations and its integral elements, modern approaches and different methods of coping with it.
Besides the theoretical material, practical examples are being discussed, will talk about the developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. The Seminar on “Hybrid Warfare” is organized by PDP.