Package of "enhanced cooperation" with NATO has not improved Georgia's defence, local experts believe

While appreciating the receipt of the package of "enhanced cooperation" with NATO in general, Georgian experts point out that the country has not improved its defence capacity. Thus, Irakli Aladashvili speaks of the need for NATO's help in military training. Irakli Tavdgiridze notes that NATO refrains from taking Georgia into the alliance in order not to provoke Russia.

As noted by Irakli Aladashvili, an expert on military issues and the editor-in-chief of the "Arsenali" magazine, the agreement deals exclusively with military transportation helicopters, while Georgia "also need armaments and ammunition, and most importantly – support personnel, because the small Georgia can not stand up against Russia."

While positively assessing the opening of NATO's training centres, the expert notes that the main problems with training servicemen have not been solved.

In the opinion of Irakli Tavdgiridze, a former analyst of the Georgia's General Staff, NATO has done everything possible for Georgia, as permitted by the format of the organization, except for the formal accession to the alliance.

He does not believe that in the near future Russia will attempt to pave the shortest route across Georgia to Armenia in order to supply weapons to the Russia's military base in Gyumri.

As to the allegations of escalation of Russia's military cooperation with Abkhazia in the context of new Euro-Atlantic initiatives, Irakli Tavdgiridze has suggested that it was more done for the sake of political advertising.