TBILISI. April 8 (Interfax-AVN) - The Georgian and Romanian defense ministers will discuss supplies of Georgian materiel and armament through Romanian ports at their upcoming meeting in Bucharest.
"During his visit to Bucharest that started on Tuesday, Georgian Defense Minister David Tevzadze will discuss with his counterpart Ioan Mircea Pascu the organization of supplies of military materiel, in particular, small-arms for the Georgian anti-terror forces, through Romanian ports," a source in the Georgian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The supplies will be effected in the framework of the Pentagon's Train and Equip program. The program provides for training anti-terrorist battalions of the Georgian army by U.S. instructors," the source said.
The U.S. provided USD64m for the program that was launched in 2002. In December last year, instructors completed training the Commandos special purpose battalion, and in May, they will complete their work in the Sachkheri motorized rifle battalion. The same month, American instructors will start training the third battalion that is already manned, and from July to August, applicants for service with the fourth battalion will be selected. A total of about 2,000 Georgian servicemen are to be trained.
"During the visit, Tevzadze will also meet with Romanian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Mihail Popesku to discuss other issues pertaining to bilateral military cooperation," the source said.
The visit will end on Thursday.