Georgian Defense Ministry: "Georgian side is ready to provide any assistance for the peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and will be happy to get the same support from Azerbaijani side"

- Are Georgian armed forces military efficient today?

- The Georgian armed forces are based on the Concept of Security and Military doctrine and they are capable of fulfilling the tasks set before them both inside the country and beyond its borders in international missions.

- How do you think whose armed forces among the South Caucasus states are more battle prepared?

- The priority of each country of the region is development of armed forces, as the region is in a difficult state. As for preparations to conduction of battles, Georgian armed forces are ready to fulfill the tasks set before them.

- Do you think resumption of hostilities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia possible? Will the Georgian army be able to ensure its territorial sovereignty if Russia is on Abkhazia's side?

- Georgia undertakes all possible measures for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and world community helps us in this process, which fills us with hope that the conflicts will be settled peaceful. When needed, Georgian armed forces will be able to ensure territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country from all aggressors. They are created for this very purpose.

- No one excludes possible resumption of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh. How will Georgia help Azerbaijan in case it occurs?

- Georgia considers that all conflicts including Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be settled peacefully. Resyumption of hostilities in the conflict areas will negatively influence the stability in the region and all regional countries will suffer from it.

- Is there a plan to strike any military contract between Georgia and Azerbaijan and which assistance can they provide to each other in the military sphere?

- Azerbaijan is Georgia's important strategic partner. As for cooperation in the military sphere, on December 16 of 2002 the sides signed an agreement between Georgia's Defense Ministry and Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on cooperation in the military sector. The said agreement envisions cooperation in many spheres, including exchange of experience in the issues of armed forces development, military reformation and regulation of armed forces: military and technical, military and economic, military and scientific and military and legal activity; military education and preparation of military staff, cooperation in air defense sector and others.

- Do you think conclusion of a military agreement between Georgia and Azerbaijan about mutual support in Abkhaz, South Ossetian and Nagorno Karabakh conflicts is real considering close cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan in the GUAM framework?

- Georgian side is ready to provide any assistance for the peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and will be happy to get the same support from Azerbaijani side. As for military cooperation in the GUAM framework, the legal basis is being developed for creation of a joint peacekeeping battalion in the GUAM frames in peacekeeping operations, based on UN mandate, as well as other international organizations, responsible for support of international peace and security in line with regulations of chapter 8 of the UN charter.

/Day.Az/