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Georgia-U.S. military cooperation to deepen: vice president

Politics Materials 18 February 2009 16:39 (UTC +04:00)

Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb. 18 / Trend , N.Kirtskhalia/

Military cooperation between Georgia and the U.S. will increase in scale and quality, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and European Integration Minister Giorgi Baramidze said.

Baramidze commented on a statement by U.S. Commander in Europe General Carter Ham.

Ham said Washington intends to help train the Georgian military.

"This is a deepening of relations between Georgia and the U.S. It is envisaged in the strategic agreement signed at the beginning of the year," Baramidze said.

Cooperation on all fronts will be enhanced between the two countries as soon as possible in accordance with the document, he said.

Georgian experts also say military cooperation between Washington and Tbilisi will be strengthened despite Russia's protests.

"However, the training will be modified so as not to focus on peacekeeping operations, as previously [was the case]," expert Koba Liklikadze said.

Liklikadze expressed confidence that the training will focus on defense.

"It was a lack of defense experience that had a negative impact on Georgian military actions during the Georgian-Russian war," he said.

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