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Multinational
naval training «Cooperative partner-2001» began in the region of Black Sea
port Poti in the framework of NATO program «Cooperation for Peace».
Defense Minister of Georgia general-lieutenant
David Tevzadze led a parade of participators dedicated to the beginning
of the training. The ambassador of
USA Kennot Yalowits, chairman of Georgian Defense and Security Committee Georgi
Baramidze and other official figures took part in the ceremony of opening of the
training. “Cooperative
partner-2001’ training will last till June 23 and about 4 thousand military
men, 38 ships and battle planes from 11 countries-participators of NATO and
partners of North-Atlantic alliance will take part in them.
The multinational naval
training “Cooperative partner-2001”, which began on Monday in port Poti
region under the framework of NATO program “Cooperation for peace”, from
political point of view, can be considered as a confirmation of Georgian
readiness to make one more step for integration to Euro-Atlantic structures,
president Eduard Shevardnadze declares. The
president Shevardnadze greeted participators of the training in the traditional
radio interview. In addition, he
stated that his presence in the training is “not required” and pleaded on
intensive schedule of work of the state’s head. Eduard Shevardnadze informed
that also representatives of Sukhumi will take part in the ceremony of the
training “Cooperative partner-2001” opening and that, in his words, it is
one more “fact of trust” between Georgian and Abkhazian sides.
From military point of view, the training, which began in Poti, will be a
serious examination of battle readiness and of correspondence of Georgian army
to NATO standards, the president Shevardnadze stated.
At the same time Sukhumi
refused to send its representatives on the NATO training “Cooperative
partner-2001”. As the first
deputy minister of the republic defense Givi Agrba declared, he was planning to
arrive to Poti under the head of Abkhazian group however, refused because he was
asked to take part in the ceremony of the opening not in military clothes but in
civilian. The strive of Georgia to
join NATO contradicts to interests of the regional stability and the training
taking place in Poti “ is a muscles play in front of Abkhazia”.
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10.04.2001
