2021-07-09
For 17 years, our country and our heroic troops have been making a tremendous contribution to ensuring global peace and the fight against terrorism; it has been our fighters' selfless, honorable fight on their way to cementing our country's reputation as a worthy partner and our army's courageous and professional image, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated during today's event celebrating the completion of the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.
The Head of Government thanked the heroic troops for their selfless service and the successful completion of their 17-year-long efforts in Afghanistan toward ensuring world peace.
"The participation and contribution of our country and troops to peacekeeping missions engaging NATO, the EU, and our international partners clearly demonstrates our country's readiness to be a security provider and to fight alongside our partners for protecting world peace-as clearly evidenced by the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan that started back in 2004. We are the largest contributor of troops to this mission among non-NATO countries. And we have proved in deed our support for the NATO member and partner states in the cause of strengthening global security. I would like to express sincere gratitude to more than 20,000 of our troops, our hero soldiers, who have participated in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. You have been protecting security all around the world and, of course, in our homeland. Our professionalism, selflessness, and heroism have drawn our country closer to the West. I thank each of you for your contribution and honorable service. I bow to the memory of our 32 hero soldiers. Their memory and selflessness will take a special place in the history of our country and armed forces," the Prime Minister said.
The Head of Government also thanked those wounded and injured fighters, who continue serving their homeland.
"Special thanks to our undefeated wounded and injured fighters, who continue protecting our country's interests and protecting our homeland. They have been protecting global peace and our country's security at the expense of their own health. I assure you that Georgia will continue strengthening global security in every format, cooperating with our partners and contributing to that end. Our country knows well the importance of partnership and protecting security. To be successful in fulfilling these and other obligations, we will continue empowering our armed forces, enhancing their readiness, upgrading our troops, and the state's worthy appreciation of our service members. Once again, I congratulate all of you on the completion of this mission. I wish you success. Once again, thank you for your honorable service. May God be our protector!" Irakli Garibashvili said.
The military personnel, who have participated in the peacekeeping mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, were also addressed by the President of Georgia, the Defense Minister, the Chief of Defense Forces, and US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan.
The event celebrating the completion of the Georgian personnel's peacekeeping mission was held at the base of the 2ndInfantry Brigade.
As part of the celebration, service members were awarded Orders of Honor and military decorations, also medals General Kvinitadze and Giorgi Antsukhelidze, for courage and selflessness.
Before the event, Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, and Chief of Defense Forces/Major General Giorgi Matiashvili honored the memory of the heroes fallen in the fight for Georgia's territorial integrity, and laid wreaths at the Memorial of Heroes.
The decision to withdraw forces from the Afghanistan mission was made by NATO in April, 2021. Georgian troops, in line with a schedule agreed with NATO-and in coordination with the country's strategic partner, the US-withdrew in stages to complete their return home in late June.
Since 2004, more than 20,000 Georgian troops have participated in international missions in Afghanistan, under 107 rotations (ISAF, RSM) on a variety of levels.
Press Service of the Government Administration