TBILISI. July 31 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. Embassy officials have handed over army uniforms, bullet proof vests and chemical protection suits worth USD350,000 to a Georgian peacekeeping contingent that will leave for Iraq within the next few days.
The Georgian Defense Ministry, however, has not specified the departure date.
A Defense Ministry source has also said that the peacekeepers may depart for Iraq on August 3.
The contingent, which includes special-operations units, sappers and doctors, will mostly likely be stationed in the town of Tikrit.
Dimitry Lezhava, chief of the Defense Ministry's central personnel department, told Interfax that several Georgian officers have already been sent to Iraq.
He said each peacekeeper will receive a monthly salary of about USD500.