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155 Georgian soldiers return from Afghanistan

Georgia Materials 16 October 2013 15:54 (UTC +04:00)
Some 155 Georgian servicemen returned from Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Georgian Defence Ministry told Trend.
155 Georgian soldiers return from Afghanistan

Georgia, Tbilisi, Oct. 16 /Trend N.Kirtzkhalia/

Some 155 Georgian servicemen returned from Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Georgian Defence Ministry told Trend.

According to the Defence Ministry, the Georgian soldiers were participating in a peacekeeping operation as part of the ISAF mission.

The soldiers of the 42nd Battalion of the Fourth Infantry Brigade have served in Afghanistan for six months.

Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Alasania met the soldiers at the airport. He congratulated the servicemen on their return to their motherland.

"With a sense of pride, I would like to say that these courageous men defended both international security and the security of Georgia with high professionalism. I wish them great success," Alasania said.

The soldiers were also met by the Chief of the Joint Staff of Georgian Armed Forces (GAF), Colonel Irakli Dzneladze, First Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of GAF Brigadier-General Vakhtang Kapanadze, Commander of the Fourth Infantry Brigade, Colonel Zaza Leladze and other officials, as well as relatives and friends of the servicemen.

Pupils and teachers of the Rustavi school #42 also were also present at the airport. The servicemen handed over Georgia's flag to them as a sign of gratitude.

The full complement of the 42nd Battalion will return to Georgia at the end of this week in line with the planned rotation. In Afghanistan the battalion was replaced by the Separate Battalion of Light Infantry.

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