Ministry of Defence of Georgia September 8, 2014
Official Visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Come to End
Two-day long official visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense to Georgia has come to an end today. Chuck Hagel has already left Georgia. Deputy Defense Minister Mikheil Darchiashvili, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland and Defense Attaché, Colonel Mathew Dimmick saw U.S. Defense Secretary off.
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania hosted the U.S. counterpart. Pentagon Chief held meetings at Georgian MoD, with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili and President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
At the meeting held at the Georgian MoD, Secretary of Defense reiterated importance of the US-Georgia partnership and expressed willingness to continue enhanced cooperation with Georgia in the defense area. He gave a positive appreciation of the Substantial Package and pledged support in its implementation.
U.S. Secretary of Defense also visited National Training Center “Krtsanisi” and delivered speech to the Georgian military and U.S. Marines. He thanked the Georgian people for their contributions and sacrifices over the last decade.
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Ministry of Defence of Georgia September 7, 2014
The US Secretary of Defense at the Heroes` Memorial
In the framework of an official visit to Georgia, the United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel went to see the memorial of heroes who had fallen in the fight for the unity and territorial integrity of Georgia. Secretary Chuck Hagel held a minute of silence to pay tribute to the memory of the Georgian heroes and those ones who died in action in international missions and laid wreath on the memorial.
The US Defense Chief also talked with the military servicemen who had been wounded in 2008 August War and in international missions.
Among the memorial visitors were Minister of Defense Irakli Alasania, Deputy Minister Mikheil Darchiashvili, Chief of the General Staff of GAF Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze, other MoD and GS officials as well as the US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland and the US delegation members. They also paid tribute to the remembers of the Georgian heroes.
The MoD military brass band performed Georgian and American state anthems.
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