Statement at Meeting with Italian Prime Minister S. Berlusconi at Camp David, 14 September 2002


I made it very clear to the Georgian government that we expected them to rout out the al Qaeda-type terrorists in the Pankisi Gorge. We are working with the Georgian government and training Georgian troops. I have told Vladimir Putin that he must give the Georgians a chance to achieve a common objective, an objective that's important for Georgia, an objective that's important for Russia, an objective important for the United States, and that is to get the al Qaeda killers and bring them to justice. And so I urge him to continue to work with us to allow the Georgians -- troops -- to do their job.

Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin on Counterterrorism Cooperation, US-Russia Summit, Moscow, 24 May 2002. Released by Office of the Press Secretary, White House
 
We reaffirm our commitment to working with the Government of Georgia on counterterrorism issues, while upholding Georgian sovereignty, and hope that the presence of terrorists in this country will be eliminated. As members of the Friends of the UN Secretary-General on Georgia, the United States and Russia remain committed to advancing a peaceful, political resolution of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We pledge to work closely with all relevant parties to these conflicts to reduce military tensions, address civilians? security concerns, and foster a lasting political settlement that preserves Georgia's territorial integrity and protects the rights of all of those involved in the conflicts. We highly appreciate the contribution of the UN Security Council, concerned states, and international mechanisms which participate in peaceful efforts toward resolution of these conflicts.

News Release of the U.S. Department of Defense

Media contact: media(at)defenselink.mil or +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact: public(at)defenselink.mil or +1 (703) 428-0711

The Department of Defense today announced the beginning of the Georgia Train and Equip program (GTEP). This program implements President Bush's decision to respond to Government of Georgia's request for assistance to enhance its counter-terrorism capabilities and address the situation in the Pankisi Gorge. This effort will complement other counter-terrorism efforts around the globe and will increase stability in the Caucasus.

A flexible, time-phased training initiative, GTEP builds upon the strong military-to-military relationship developed between the two countries since the end of the Cold War, and further underscores U.S. support for Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Selected members of SOCEUR will conduct the GTEP. A SOCEUR site survey team of approximately 20 people departed for Georgia today to coordinate GTEP logistical requirements. Included in the team are logistics, contracting, and communications personnel. Once this groundwork is accomplished, the main body of instructors will arrive, and the initial program of instruction will begin shortly thereafter.

The initial program will consist of command center staff training for members of the Georgian Ministry of Defense as well as staff training for units of the Land Forces Command. Border Guards and other Georgian security agencies will be included to ensure interoperability among Georgia's security forces. The program's goal is to build strong and effective staff organizations capable of creating and sustaining standardized operating procedures, training plans, operational plans, and a property accounting system. The curriculum will consist of performance-oriented training and practical exercises similar to those taught at the National Defense University, Joint Forces Command, and U.S. Army War College. Staff training is designed to last approximately 70 days and will be conducted in a small group, classroom setting.

In addition to staff training, tactical training will be provided sequentially and will consist of approximately 100 days per unit. The goal of the tactical program is to instruct Georgian battalions in light infantry tactics, to include platoon-level offensive and defensive operations and basic airmobile tactics. The curriculum for the tactics training will include basic individual skills, such as combat lifesaver, radio operator procedures, land navigation, and human rights education. It will also include individual combat skills, such as rifle marksmanship, individual movement techniques, and squad and platoon tactics.

During GTEP, military equipment is slated for transfer to Georgia. Equipment includes uniform items, small arms and ammunition, communications gear, training gear, medical gear, fuel, and construction materiel.

Georgia and the United States remain solid partners dedicated to the promotion of peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

Statement by Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones on US-European Relations,
House International Relations Committee, Sub-Committee on Europe, Washington D.C., 13 March 2002


In the Caucasus, we are working with Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. We seek a comprehensive settlement through the Minsk Group peace process. Georgian sovereignty is important to the Administration. We are proposing a program to develop Georgia’s internal capacity to deal with terrorism now and in the future. We also are working to support the development of democracy and human rights in the Caucasus.

Statement by H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan at EAPC Summit

Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished Colleagues,

World nowadays is going through an extremely complex situation. International terrorism, backed up by some states, poses a challenge to the global law and order, tries to set up new confrontation lines on the basis of the ideology of extremism, aggressive nationalism and militant separatism, aspires to carry out new revision of borders.

International system is under a serious test of the ability to effectively counter this common menace. Right after the tragedy of 11 September the Euro-Atlantic community has set up the anti-terror coalition that Azerbaijan joined from day one. Today, in cooperation with other countries and international organizations, we continue to do our utmost to counter these threats. Their nature and scale render all, including geographical, limitations for joint and comprehensive fight within the NATO/EAPC framework irrelevant.

However, the threat had been there even before 11 September. Hotbeds of terrorism and organized crime linked with it are shaped in conflict zones and in the territories uncontrolled by legitimate authorities as a result of wars triggered by the policies of aggressive nationalism and violent separatism. The region of South Caucasus is the most vulnerable in this regard.

Waging an implacable fight against international terrorism and extremism, Azerbaijan directs its main efforts towards the goal of liberating of its territories from Armenian occupation, restoring law and order there. Resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh meets the interests of all states of the Euro-Atlantic partnership. While it is not late, international community must undertake all possible efforts to achieve peaceful settlement of the conflict on the basis of full restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in accordance with the norms and principles of international law. ,

Azerbaijan, considering Partnership with NATO as the basis of future Euro-Atlantic security system, aspires to integrational partnership and intensified bilateral dialogue with the Alliance. Here I would like to emphasize the increased interdependency between Members of the Alliance and Partners as well as the need to take better account of Partners' interests and requirements.

We note increased attention on the part of NATO toward South Caucasus. However, any regional initiatives and proposals must, in the first place, be aimed at the liquidation of consequences of wars and restoration of internationally recognized borders between states.

We note with satisfaction the evolution of new relationship between NATO and Russia that could have considerable significance in elimination of crises in various regions of Europe.

I congratulate states that have been invited to join the Alliance, and note the commitment of NATO to the open door policy.

Mr. Chairman.

Goals ahead of us demand tremendous efforts. However, we ought not back off and must always keep in mind our solemn duty - to leave after us a secure and stable world for next generations.

Thank you for your attention.

Statement by Georgian President E. Shevarnadze at the EAPC Summit Meeting, Prague, 22 November 2002.


Anyone who has spent at least a week in Georgia knows well that by virtue of the dynamic development of the civil society, practically every problem of serious concern becomes here a subject of heated public debate. Yet, I can also assure you that perhaps the only issue in the recent years against which no reasonable argument has ever been suggested is the Georgian public's perspective on the future of the country's national security which is widely seen in the context of the country's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. I am happy that at the Summit of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council I can declare that Georgia is determined to be a full member of NATO and is resolved to work hard to prepare for this historic mission.

For a country like Georgia this is not a short road, yet not as long as it seemed only a couple of years ago. This is evidenced among other things by the State Program for the Euro-Atlantic Integration developed by the National Security Council of Georgia, the ongoing reform of the Georgian army consistent with the standards NATO demands, as well as by the units trained under the American-Georgian Train and Equip program that will eventually form the main body of the streamlined Georgian armed forces. Also I am fully convinced that the engagement in the Individual Partnership Action Plan will create incentive for Georgia to accelerate and more boldly pursue political, economic and military reforms. We also realize that the admissions will be reserved only for those countries that aside from expecting to be defended and assisted by the Alliance, will at the same time be in a position to contribute to a full range of its missions by safeguarding and promoting the Euro-Atlantic values in their respective regions.


-------------

full text:

Statement by President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze at the EAPC Summit

Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and gentlemen,

All of us - the allied and partner nations - who have gathered here in Prague are witnessing a defining moment in the fundamental transformation of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Georgia attributes vital importance to this transformation and regards two of its elements as possessing special significance. One is continuing to adapt NATO to deal with the challenges of the new international environment which above all implies effective action to counter a new set of dangers in whatever ways they manifest themselves. The other is NATO's further enlargement.

I believe that the creation of NATO's new Rapid Reaction Force is a very timely and necessary initiative to achieve the first objective, namely the prevention of possible future terrorist- acts and elimination of the sources that foster terrorism, such as religious fanaticism, aggressive separatism and extremist nationalism. The so called "white spots'' that emerge as a result of aggressive separatist activities, often turn into nidi of terrorist infection. Georgia as an active member of the Partnership for Peace program stands ready to cooperate fully with the Alliance to address this problem in our region which happens to be an outpost of a civilization that regards freedom and humanism, in the widest possible sense, as its central values.

Georgia's future as an independent nation is hinged on obtaining firm guarantees for the-protection of these very values and we, therefore, strongly welcome further eastward expansion of the Alliance. We congratulate all those nations that have been invited to become full members of NATO or will be offered to join in the very" near future. As the president of a Black Sea state, I am particularly satisfied that the invitations have been extended to Romania and Bulgaria. This brings the Black Sea area into NATO's sphere of interests and adds a new dimension to its security.

We welcome the progress in deepening the cooperation between NATO and Russia and the distinctive partnership that has been forged between NATO and Ukraine since we regard these developments as a cornerstone not only of the Euro-Atlantic, but also of global security.

South-East Europe, particularly the Caucasus region has been gaining ever greater importance for the entire continent and the Euro-Atlantic community at large. The region serves as a major outlet for the Caspian hydrocarbons to world markets and at the same time provides the shortest routes linking the West to the natural wealth, labor and markets in Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Far East. The same routes, however carry the risk of becoming thoroughfares for the spread of new transnational threats, different from those of the past including threats posed by terrorism. We, therefore, consider that the region of the South Caucasus and Central Asia, indeed merits the special attention the Alliance has shown by deepening cooperation with it.

Anyone who has spent at least a week in Georgia knows well that by virtue of the dynamic development of the civil society, practically every problem of serious concern becomes here a subject of heated public debate. Yet, I can also assure you that perhaps the only issue in the recent years against which no reasonable argument has ever been suggested is the Georgian public's perspective on the future of the country's national security which is widely seen in the context of the country's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. I am happy that at the Summit of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council I can declare that Georgia is determined to be a full member of NATO and is resolved to work hard to prepare for this historic mission.

For a country like Georgia this is not a short road, yet not as long as it seemed only a couple of years ago. This is evidenced among other things by the State Program for the Euro-Atlantic Integration developed by the National Security Council of Georgia, the ongoing reform of the Georgian army consistent with the standards NATO demands, as well as by the units trained under the American-Georgian Train and Equip program that will eventually form the main body of the streamlined Georgian armed forces. Also I am fully convinced that the engagement in the Individual Partnership Action Plan will create incentive for Georgia to accelerate and more boldly pursue political, economic and military reforms. We also realize that the admissions will be reserved only for those countries that aside from expecting to be defended and assisted by the Alliance, will at the same time be in a position to contribute to a full range of its missions by safeguarding and promoting the Euro-Atlantic values in their respective regions.

Ladies and gentlemen,

ue to historical vicissitudes, my people have for centuries been cut off from the western civilization although it always saw its rightful place there. I know that every citizen of Georgia is looking to the meeting in Prague with great hope since this Summit indeed marks a turning point for my country and people for whom democracy and freedom are supreme values.

Finally, let me extend my sincere thanks to President Havel for his hospitality in hosting this event.

Thank you very much for your attention.