Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb.24 /Trend N.Kirtzkhalia/
The U.S. Secretary of Defence has offered his personal condolences to his Georgian counterpart with regard to the death of three Georgian military personnel in Afghanistan who were part of the peacekeeping force.
Leon Panetta contacted Bacho Akhalaia and said that on behalf of the U.S. government expressed condolences to the Georgian people and relatives of the three soldiers killed in Afghanistan during a Taliban attack on February 21, the Defence Ministry of Georgia told Trend.
The head of the Pentagon once again stressed that the Georgian military in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stands out as having magnificent courage and professionalism, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia said.
In turn, the head of the Georgian Defence Ministry thanked Leon Panetta for the kind words and support provided by the American delegation headed by Deputy U.S. Secretary of Defence on Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia issues, Celeste Wallander, who is currently in Georgia
Three servicemen of the Georgian peacekeeping contingent, Corporals Valiko Beraya, Ruslan Meladze and Paata Kacharava died in an explosion in Afghanistan during a Taliban attack. They served in the 31st battalion of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the Georgian Ministry of Defence as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Helmand province.
Georgian soldiers have been serving in Afghanistan since August 6, 2009. Fifteen soldiers have already been killed during the duty period of the Georgian regiment in ISAF operation under the auspices of NATO.
The number of Georgian troops in Afghanistan will increase to 1600 in 2012.