4um: Georgian President says 'Russia fighting war' [complaining about the US not jumping to defending Georgia]

EURASIA INSIGHT

GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS WASHINGTON, SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN US-GEORGIAN SECURITY TIES

Theresa Freese 6/23/05

Promoting Georgia’s bid to integrate into Western security structures, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili recently visited Washington for talks with "friends" and "allies," including US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

In a June 16 interview, Okruashvili described the purpose of his trip as three-fold: "Getting NATO support; Getting the support of the United States in order to convince the Russians to sit down around the [negotiating] table to solve the problems of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; and to continue military programs."

The United States and Georgia enjoy a close strategic relationship, underscored by US President George W. Bush’s visit to Tbilisi in mid May. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. An 850-strong Georgian troop contingent currently serves in Iraq – marking the largest contribution of personnel, in per capita terms, made by any single country in the American-led coalition. The first Georgian Train and Equip Program, which prepared troops from Georgia’s 1st Brigade for service in Iraq, lasted from 2002 to 2004. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The Pentagon followed up in 2005 with the $60-million Sustainment and Stability Operations Program, which is preparing Georgia’s 2nd Brigade for deployment in Iraq and is providing follow-up assistance for the 1st Brigade. At the end of these programs, Okruashvili said that up to 2,500 Georgian troops would be qualified to serve in international peacekeeping operations, such as in Kosovo and Iraq.

Georgian and American officials were tight-lipped concerning Okruashvili’s June 17 talks with Rumsfeld. The Defense Department stated only that the two discussed "defense issues of mutual interest." One Western military source, meanwhile, said the meeting was "not very substantive," adding that Rumsfeld merely suggested that Georgia improve its time-line for NATO accession.

Georgian defense officials consider the country’s participation in Iraq peacekeeping operations as a critical part of Georgia’s overall defense policy. The deployment in Iraq is being counted upon to enhance Georgia’s ability to gain membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It may also provide Georgian officials with strategic heft in ongoing negotiations with Russia over the political status of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].

In a June 16 presentation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Okruashvili characterized Russia as a "decision-maker" in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He added that he was anxious to prevent a scenario in which the unresolved conflicts held Georgia "hostage," and derailed NATO integration.

"We want to make sure the territorial problems Georgia faces will not become irresolvable obstacles for our progress towards NATO," said Giga Bokeria, a member of the Georgian parliament’s Defense and Security committee, who accompanied Okruashvili to Washington. "Otherwise, the enemies of Georgia will have ... incentives not to have any progress there."

At present Georgia is working to fulfill NATO-mandated obligations under an Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). That could clear the way for Georgia to become a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP) country. Both Okruashvili and Bokeria insisted that a 2006 deadline for the fulfillment of IPAP requirements would be met. Following a IPAP review in May at the Atlantic alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Georgia had made "a lot of progress," but added that "a lot has to be done" before Georgia is ready for membership.

At his CSIS presentation, Okruashvili said the immediate focus of Georgian military reforms was "establishing [the] professional ability and strength of our forces and . . . [the] inter-operability of our forces with NATO structures." In his view, the IPAP review indicated that all the elements for "real progress" in Georgia’s NATO bid "are in place." Okruashvili added that Georgian defense planners are addressing several concerns raised in the review. He assured, for instance, that "radical [personnel] changes are not planned in the nearest future" at the Defense Ministry.

Okruashvili added that a controversial Army Development Foundation, through which anonymous businessmen subsidized Georgia’s military budget, would be discontinued "[by the time the] next assessment team comes [at the] end of September or the beginning of October." The fund’s primary aim is to provide resources for the "construction or improvement of [the] infrastructure of the ministry of defense," he said. During his subsequent interview with EurasiaNet, Okruashvili stated that "no more" than 11 million lari (about $6 million) had been withdrawn from the fund since its creation roughly a year ago. About 2.5 million lari (roughly $1.4 million) remain in the fund, he said.

Okruashvili stated that he does not intend to introduce any "major structural changes" or make "major public procurements" until Georgia’s long-awaited Strategic Defense Review (SDR), an inventory of existing forces and equipment, is completed by the end of the year. Defense planning, he said, should be ready by September 2005. Meanwhile, the National Security Concept is now being reviewed by parliament. A legislative vote on the concept, which would guide the formulation of defense and national security policy, could come as soon as June 24, according to Bokeria.

One military source disputed Okruashvili's contention concerning procurement practices. The source said that Georgia is continuing to make purchases from Ukraine, including an air defense system.

American advisors are expected to help Georgian military planners develop a strategic defense plan, allowing Tbilisi to harmonize security objectives with its budgetary ability. A two-week assessment mission is scheduled for July. The lack of an SDR and strategic defense plan have been identified as obstacles that threaten Georgia’s ability to meet its 2006 deadline for the fulfillment of IPAP requirements.

A controversy looms over the optimal size of the Georgian military. Georgia reportedly strives to maintain four army brigades, and is considering forming a fifth. Okruashvili himself estimated that Georgia currently has no more than 12,000 troops -- with 3,000 soldiers per brigade.

Some experts have expressed concern about Georgia’s ability to finance such a force. Georgia’s defense budget currently stands at $180 million, or 320 million lari, according to Okruashvili. That amount slightly exceeds NATO standards. Defense spending for member states typically amounts to roughly 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Georgia’s military expenditures make up approximately 11.5 percent of the state budget (roughly 2 billion lari, or about $1.1 billion), and consume about 2.93 percent of GDP, said Deputy Defense Minister David Sikharulidze.

Bokeria expressed confidence that Georgia could support four brigades. "Georgia already demonstrated it is capable of financing its bureaucracy and military on its own," he said. "Budgetary revenues are growing and will grow further." But a Western military advisor sounded skeptical: "They cannot sustain four brigades, plus the special forces brigade, plus navy and air force, plus reserves and national guard, plus education and training--not by any western standards," the advisor said.

Editor’s Note: Theresa Freese, a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, is a freelance journalist and political analyst who has been conducting research on unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus since 2003.

http://www.eurasianet.org