Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 2 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia /
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili proposed the appointment of a lifetime pension to the families of Georgian peacekeepers killed in Afghanistan while on duty, the presidential administration informed on Wednesday.
"Along with compensation provided by Georgian laws, the bereaved families of Georgian peacekeepers in Afghanistan will be assigned a lifetime pension," Saakashvili said at a meeting with servicemen of the Georgian peacekeeping contingent in the Afghan province of Helmand.
The President noted that a bill will be submitted to the Parliament of Georgia.
Earlier, the Georgian Defense Ministry reported that by decision of Prime Minister Ivanishvili wages of servicemen of the Georgian peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan will be increased from January 2013: salary of common soldiers will make $1,000 instead of previous $715, Corporal's salary - about $ 1,040 vs. $ 780, junior sergeant's salary - $1,080 compared to previous $845, sergeants' salary - $1,118 compared to previous $910, staff sergeants'- $1,157 instead of previous $975. Salaries of middle and senior officers have also been increased.
Georgia sent a total of 175 peacekeepers to Afghanistan in November 2009. Since April 2010 the Georgian peacekeeping corps in Afghanistan has reached 925 servicemen, and since October 2012 - 1,500 servicemen. The majority of them are serving in an extended Georgian battalion under the U.S. command in the Helmand Province, the rest are deployed in Kabul under the French command. During the period of stay in Afghanistan 19 Georgian peacekeepers were killed and more than 30 wounded.