2021-07-22
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Our main task over the coming years will be to pay maximum attention to the development and empowerment of the Defense Forces and cementing our country's defense capabilities, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated in his speech during today's presentation of the Defense Ministry's 10-year plan.
The foregoing serves the purpose of protecting the country's sovereignty and the safety of the population, the Head of Government added.
"Let me remind the population that we have engaged in long-term planning, with each institution having developed its own 10-year development plan. Our main task over the coming years will be to pay maximum attention to the development and empowerment of the Defense Forces and cementing our country's defense capabilities, to cementing our country's defense capabilities, and that will ultimately serve the purpose of protecting the country's sovereignty and the safety of our citizens.
I would like to reiterate that it was a great honor to have served as Defense Minister, serving you, dear officers. We did a lot over that one year, many successful reforms and good causes, but we also have a plan developed together to strengthen our army even further," the Prime Minister said.
Irakli Garibashvili explained the rationale behind the 10-year development plan.
"Back when I was Defense Minister, we had numerous meetings with then Chief of Defense Forces Vladimer Chachibaia, and then with his successor, Giorgi Matiashvili. Together with my team and Deputies, we considered developing a long-term plan, a vision that would guarantee and set the stage for our army's development. Our starting point and task was to develop a vision, a document that would not be constantly amended, being independent from the views of individual ministers, instead being mandatory to implement for every minister and political leadership. And that is how this idea was conceived, and last year we developed a draft document in the course of 6 months. And have gathered here today to present our key visions to our population," the Head of Government said.
The Defense Minister thanked the Prime Minister for his support and effort to benefit the Defense Forces.
According to Juansher Burchuladze, as part of the full restoration of the aircraft fleet, 4 fighter aircraft and 7 helicopters were renovated this year alone, an effort initiated under Irakli Garibashvili as Defense Minister, and something nobody would have imagined just a few years ago. The Minister emphasized that the policy of appreciation of service members continues, with raises to be given to that end. In addition, with support from the Prime Minister, the future of army officers, and their social conditions, will be secured on a legislative level. The Defense Ministry will initiate a bill obligating the Government to provide majors of all military ranks and higher with apartments, and said officers will receive legislative guarantees of wage growth.
"Support from the Government team, notably from the Prime Minister, is vital for the empowerment of our army. I would like to thank Mister Prime Minister for his support and special effort toward the empowerment and successful transformation of our army, and the entire Government team for their support. I am convinced that the implementation of the 2020-2030 Action Plan of the Defense Forces will result in substantially stronger, fully modernized Defense Forces furnished with modern equipment," Juansher Burchuladze stated.
The presentation of the Defense Ministry's action plan, at the Combined Arms Center, was attended by representatives of Georgia's executive and legislative branches, the diplomatic corps, and the Defense Forces.
Press Service of the Government Administration