TBILISI. Aug 4 (Interfax-AVN) - The U.S. will provide Georgia with over $1 million for it to send its servicemen to Iraq in 2004, a source in the Georgian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Last year the U.S. provided Georgia with $320,000 for sending its military contingent to Iraq. In 2004 this sum is expected to exceed $1 million," the source said.
According to him, the U.S. continues assisting the Georgian Armed Forces, after the two-year $64 million Train and Equip program was completed this spring. A total of four counterterrorism battalions and an armor company have been trained in Georgia within the framework of this program.
"At the present time the U.S. assistance is primarily aimed at developing and strengthening the 11th Motorized Rifle Brigade," the source said.
"In 2005 this brigade will have necessary logistics services and medical units, given the U.S. assistance," he said.
According to him, a total of eight U.S. military mobile teams will train staff and combat service support officers in this brigade in 2004.