"Productive cooperation with the Lithuanian Armed Forces stimulates the development of the Georgian Armed Forces. We are grateful to Lithuania for both, political and practical support," Chief of General Staff of Georgia Major General Vladimir Chachibaia said at a meeting with the Chief of Defence of Lithuania on October 5.
The meeting took place after a formal welcome ceremony at the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia in Tbilisi during Lt Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas' first official visit in Georgia on October 4-6.
"I assured Georgia's Chief of Defence that we will continue supporting Georgia's cooperation with NATO and will continue the assistance in military training, education and capacity building that is based on bilateral agreements," Lt Gen J. V. Žukas said.
During the visit Chief of Defence also met with Minister of Defence of Georgia Levan Izoria, visited the National Defence Academy of Georgia and the NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) based in the territory of the Krtsanisi National Training Centre, laid flower tribute at the memorial for fallen Georgia'[s soldiers.
Lt Gen J. V. Žukas discussed the security situation in the region, relevant aspects and prospects of bilateral military cooperation, deployments to multinational operations and familiarised with the priorities, activities and progress regarding the Georgian Armed Forces' capabilities.
Lithuanian-Georgian defence cooperation
Lithuania and Georgia have been cooperating actively in the area of defence since signing a bilateral agreement in 2001.Main areas of military cooperation include: officer training, expert-level consultations across such areas as cyber defence, logistics, finance and budget, strategic planning, protection of classified information, legal issues, etc.
Georgia's representatives have been studying at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania and the Baltic Defence College in Estonia since 2004, Lithuanian Armed Forces School - since 2010, Military Medical Service - since 2008. Georgia's troops regularly observe or train in military exercises in Lithuania, and Lithuanians - in Georgia.
The cooperation with Georgian Armed Forces is also developed at services and military education level: the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force and the Georgia National Guard, Special Operations Forces of both, Georgia and Lithuania, and the Military Academy of Lithuania and the National Defence Academy of Georgia cooperate.
Lithuania, UK, and NB8 countries established the NATO-Georgia Vocational Training Program for security and defence sector personnel in 2009. In 2009-2014 Lithuania and Latvia led the Public Relations Work Group and completed various specialist training projects. Lithuania provided financial support to the NATO-Georgia Vocational Training Program based on a trust fund model. Since 2015 Lithuania has been contributing to the creation of NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) alongside other Baltic and Nordic countries.
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence Major Mindaugas Neimontas, 003307 5 278 5091, 00370 682 25359, e-mail: mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
Photos: courtesy of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia
