TBILISI. Feb 2 (Interfax-AVN) - The Georgian Interior Ministry Force will get rid of tanks and artillery during its transformation into gendarmerie, Interior Minister Georgy Baramidze said on Sunday.
"The Interior Ministry Force will be stripped off purely military components such as tanks and artillery in the course of reforms in 2004," Baramidze told reporters.
"This decision was made because the reforms envisage the transformation of the Interior Ministry Force into gendarmerie and its merger with the State Border Guard Department," he said.
A team of Georgian and Western experts worked out the concept of the Interior Ministry Force transformation into a structure similar to gendarmerie that exists in several Eurpean nations. The concept provides for expanding the force's functions so that they would include detention of individuals and conduction of investigation. In addition, regional gendarmerie departments will be set up.
"The concept is yet to be considered by the National Security Council, after which it will be submitted to the president," Baramidze said.
A source in the Interior Ministry Force command told Interfax-Military News Agency that "the force is likely to be stripped off heavy armament before autumn this year, because the transformation into gendarmerie is to be over by the end of the year."
According to the Interior Ministry, the Interior Ministry Force numbers 6,400 personnel.