2022-11-22
"Mister Defense Minister, Mister Chief of the Defense Forces, esteemed generals, officers, sergeants, corporals, and privates, honorable guests,
"I greet all of you and wish you a happy anniversary of the Special Operations Forces. I offer special anniversary wishes to each fighter of the Special Operations Forces, our exceptional and prized soldiers, our heroes, who have repeatedly proved their loyalty and self-sacrifice for our country through their professionalism, selflessness, and heroism. On behalf of our Government , I would like to thank you for your honorable service, your dedication and professionalism," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated in his speech at today's event celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of the Special Operations Forces.
As the Head of Government pointed out, the Special Operations Forces are an exceptional unit of the Defense Forces that protects the country's sovereignty, also having participated in peace operations across the world.
According to him, as promised, an outstanding modern Special Operations Forces center will be built at the Mukhrovani base to fully meet NATO standards.
"The Special Operations Forces are an exceptional unit of the Defense Forces that protects the country's sovereignty, also having honorably participated in peace operations across the world. You always have been and are protecting our homeland and our country's interests heroically and courageously. I would like to bow my head to our hero soldiers fallen in battle, to the memory of our heroes. Also, I would like to thank every Special Operations Forces veteran who has served your unit loyally, who has honorably served the Defense Forces and our homeland. You all, dear officers, play an enormous role in the empowerment of our army-the most patriotic and honorable cause that we have today. It is our duty to maximally strengthen the Georgian army. The state is obligated to do everything to strengthen our army, cement its defense capability. Over the past years, we have taken important steps together and implemented many interesting projects. And today, we are all together celebrating the launch of a truly wide-reaching project at the Mukhrovani base. This was our promise. One of the most outstanding modern centers of the Special Operations Forces and a full-fledged base will be built fully in line with NATO standards. This is a 70-million-GEL project, a construction that we launched today by burying a symbolic capsule, and that will be finalized in just two years," the Prime Minister noted.
The Head of Government, in his speech, thanked international partners for their assistance.
"I avail myself of this opportunity to thank our partners, our international partners, our friends, who have made a tremendous contribution to the cause of empowering your unit. I would like to single out our main strategic partner, the United States of America, and the armies of other NATO member states and their assistance that has been truly invaluable over the years. Once again, I wish you a happy anniversary on this day. I wish you success and victory. May God be your protector," the Prime Minister stated.
Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, was given an award plaque for his special contribution to and support of the development of the Special Operations Forces of Georgia's Defense Forces.
The Special Operations Forces turned twenty-three today. The ceremony celebrating the establishment of the Special Operations Forces was held at Major Gela Chedia Special Operations Training Center, in Mukhrovani. The event was attended by Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Chief of the Defense Forces/Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, and representatives of the Defense Forces.
For the invited guests, the personnel of the Special Operations Forces carried out exhibition trainings designed to upgrade management and control by means of integrating combat functions. The drills involved raid, fire coordination, and site clearing, also hostage rescue and site explosion exercises.
After the exhibition trainings, the foundation was laid for the construction of new infrastructural sites of the Special Operations Forces in the territory adjacent to the base. The Prime Minister of Georgia, the Defense Minister, the Chief of the Defense Forces, and Commander of the Special Operations Forces/Colonel Temur Klateishvili buried a capsule in the building's foundation. After the completion of construction, the Special Operations Forces will relocate into the new Mukhrovani base. Twenty-four new facilities will be built and three old ones will be rehabilitated in all. A command headquarters, barracks, a dining facility, a hospital, a parade ground, a motor pool, and other facilities serving various functions will be built at the initial stage. The following stage envisages the construction of learning, educational, sports, and recreation areas and the territory's landscaping.
On the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Special Operations Forces, the service members were also addressed by Juansher Burchuladze and Commander of the Special Operations Forces/Colonel Temur Klateishvili. They thanked the retired and active Special Operations Forces personnel for their honorable and highly professional service to the homeland and spoke about the important role of the military unit in the empowerment of the country's defense capability.
The event concluded with an awarding ceremony of service members. The personnel of the Special Operations Forces were awarded institutional medals Giorgi Antsukhelidze, General Mazniashvili, and Self-Sacrifice for the Homeland, also 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-degree medals For Impeccable Service, alongside ordinance weapons and valuable gifts. The personnel received the commander's unit citation along with certificates of appreciation.
On November 22, 1999, a special operations combat course was launched at the Low-Intensity Military Operations Preparation Center in Kojori. The course was successfully completed by twelve service members, and subsequently the first special operations group was formed. This laid the foundation of the first special military operations unit in Georgia. Since inception, the Special Operations Forces have been actively involved in military actions to defend the country's territorial integrity, being equally active at various times in protecting peace around the world as part of international missions in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Press Service of the Government Administration