TBILISI. April 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The Georgian Defense Ministry has started drafting a program for a gradual transition of the country's armed forces to NATO standards.
"In connection with this, officials from the NATO Standardization Agency will hold a seminar in Tbilisi on April 22- 26, during which the top brass of the Georgian army will be informed about NATO requirements concerning the armed forces' operation and options for introducing NATO standards," a source with the Georgian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
Chief of the Coordinating Staff of the NATO's Partnership For Peace program at the Georgian General Staff Vice Colonel Irakly Batkuashvili told Interfax-AVN that "in connection with the country's desire to join the North Atlantic alliance, it will be necessary to gradually change the principles of planning, liaison, administration, etc. practiced in our army by NATO principles and standards."
Georgia announced its intention to join NATO at the alliance's summit in Prague in November 2002.