Georgia began the withdrawal of its 160 soldiers from Kosovo during the week of April 15 and announced plans to contribute to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan. “We have decided to boost our participation in ISAF [International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan], because this operation is a top priority for NATO; so we have decided, based on our goals, to redirect our efforts towards ISAF. We will simultaneously continue our presence in Iraq as well,” Batu Kutelia, the Georgian deputy defense minister, told Rustavi 2 TV on April 14, Geotimes reported.

In late March Georgian foreign minister Davit Bakradze publicized Georgia’s offer to send two company size units to Afghanistan: one to Kabul and another to the southern province of Uruzgan. According to the news source, Georgia is also ready to send a smaller MoD special operations unit to be deployed alongside U.S. troops.

This information was originally published on April 15, 2008. (www.geotimes.ge)