The President of Georgia MikheilSaakashvili visited Krtsanisi Training Center together with United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrook.

Richard Holbrook met those Georgian militaries that have been trained to participate in Afghan peacekeeping mission.

MikheilSaakashvili and Richard Holbrook had lunch together with Georgian militaries.

Later United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrook got familiarized with the living conditions and with the specifics of training.

MikheilSaakashvili stated that Georgian battalion's mission in Afghanistan will be very complicated, but Georgia must stand together with its allies.

The President of Georgia noted that Richard Holbrook and General Petraeus told him that the professionalism, brevity and readiness level of Georgian soldiers delights them.

"I want to tell you that it will be a very difficult mission. Not only the fate of Afghanistan and coalition countries depends on the success of this operation, but resolving of many of our issues also depends on the success of our allies and friends - those countries who support Georgia's future, unity and welfare of Georgian people", stated the President of Georgia.

He called Georgian soldiers professionals. As the President noted this mission is not simply some general mission; this mission is about Georgian patriotic deed as well.

"We pin great hopes on them. Their families and we worry about their safety and security. But we at the same time understand very well that we are engaged in this battle together with allies in order to accomplish our common cause without any retreat" MikheilSaakashvili stated.

Richard Holbrook agreed with President Saakashvili's quote that Georgian soldiers participation into the Afghan mission serves the common mission of the whole civilization.

At the same time Holbrook said that it is not that easy for small country like Georgia to make such a decision.

"Mr. President, dear friends, I want to express gratitude on the behalf of American people and the whole world for the decision you have made - to send one additional battalion to Afghanistan. Georgian troops would play a vital role in the effort to defeat terrorism around the world. I am pretty familiar with Georgian character and I honor it very much. I am impressed with what I saw. The Georgian Colonels explained me the plot of your training. I am proud that I saw the US Marines here; they were part of this training. I will tell about all to the President of United States, to the Secretary of State, to the big friend of Georgia Joe Biden and my other colleagues in Washington", Holbrook stated.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia