On February 5 Lieutenant General David Tevzadze, Georgian Minister of Defense, paid an official visit to Ukraine as part of the two nations’ bilateral cooperation. In a meeting with his Georgian counterpart, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Gen. Oleksandr Kuzmuk pointed out the strategic nature of the two countries’ military cooperation and said the two respective ministries had never lost touch, but it is now time to discuss prospects and directions.
That morning the two defense ministers spoke one-on- one, then the delegations held official negotiations, discussing all the issues of mutual interest, especially the prospects for military and political cooperation. Among other points discussed was forming a joint peacekeeping force in the GUUAM framework and the assistance of Ukrainian specialists in restoring the Georgian capital’s air defense. The defense ministers noted in this connection that formation of a joint peacekeeping and disaster relief contingent is a question of paramount importance, because this kind of a rapid reaction force would make it possible to create an additional factor of stability in the region, which would in turn contribute to global security. All these items were included in the program of cooperation between the Ministries of Defense of Georgia and Ukraine for 2001 signed that day. After signing the program, the ministers reiterated at a press conference that the military of Ukraine and Georgia have many similar problems, which bilateral cooperation and exchange of experience could help solve.
