The News in Brief
Tuesday, October 30
Usupashvili not to support any candidate in second round of elections
None of the candidates can have my political support in this election, as I cannot see potential in any of them, - presidential candidate Davit Usupashvili said at a briefing on Monday.
According to him, he does not think that any political team that received the highest votes in the first round can care for the future of Georgia. Usupashvili apologized to the public for the mistake that his surname was incorrectly named among the candidates supporting Grigol Vashadze in the second round.
Usupashvili addressed his colleagues not to set standards for opposition activities. In particular, he said he meant Davit Bakradze, who said he would support the opposition presidential candidate in the second round.
In addition, he thanked the 36 007 voters who voted for him.
(IPN)
US Defence Secretary thanks Georgian PM for country’s defense reforms
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and thanked him for his commitment to the country's defense reforms and investment in the Georgian armed forces.
The letter reads that Georgia's spending of two percent of GDP on defense and 20 percent of defense spending on major equipment purchases is in line with NATO standards.
The US Defense Secretary also commends the work of Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria and his “in-depth knowledge of US-Georgia bilateral defense cooperation”.
Prioritizing defense reform and spending illustrates Minister Izoria's dedication to the readiness and modernization of Georgia's armed forces. He has simultaneously reduced personnel costs by 15 percent, an essential step to ensure Georgia's capability investments are sustainable.
Mattis also offered his “deepest gratitude” for Georgia' s long-standing support for NATO's mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan.
“As I recently commented at the NATO Ministerial, Georgia has endured tremendous sacrifices, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO and Afghan forces, in some of the most dangerous provinces in the country. Our alliance depends on courageous, willing, resilient partners to share the burden of our mutual security interests and project stability around the globe. Georgia has proven itself one of NATO's most steadfast partners”, reads the letter.
(Agenda.ge)
None of the candidates can have my political support in this election, as I cannot see potential in any of them, - presidential candidate Davit Usupashvili said at a briefing on Monday.
According to him, he does not think that any political team that received the highest votes in the first round can care for the future of Georgia. Usupashvili apologized to the public for the mistake that his surname was incorrectly named among the candidates supporting Grigol Vashadze in the second round.
Usupashvili addressed his colleagues not to set standards for opposition activities. In particular, he said he meant Davit Bakradze, who said he would support the opposition presidential candidate in the second round.
In addition, he thanked the 36 007 voters who voted for him.
(IPN)
US Defence Secretary thanks Georgian PM for country’s defense reforms
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and thanked him for his commitment to the country's defense reforms and investment in the Georgian armed forces.
The letter reads that Georgia's spending of two percent of GDP on defense and 20 percent of defense spending on major equipment purchases is in line with NATO standards.
The US Defense Secretary also commends the work of Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria and his “in-depth knowledge of US-Georgia bilateral defense cooperation”.
Prioritizing defense reform and spending illustrates Minister Izoria's dedication to the readiness and modernization of Georgia's armed forces. He has simultaneously reduced personnel costs by 15 percent, an essential step to ensure Georgia's capability investments are sustainable.
Mattis also offered his “deepest gratitude” for Georgia' s long-standing support for NATO's mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan.
“As I recently commented at the NATO Ministerial, Georgia has endured tremendous sacrifices, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO and Afghan forces, in some of the most dangerous provinces in the country. Our alliance depends on courageous, willing, resilient partners to share the burden of our mutual security interests and project stability around the globe. Georgia has proven itself one of NATO's most steadfast partners”, reads the letter.
(Agenda.ge)