October - ACO - NATO

KFOR CHRONICLEK F O R C o n t i n g e n t : GThe Georgian ContingentCommander MAJ BesikBerdelidzeBy 1st LT Maksym Nedria,Ukrainian ArmyPhotos by Armend AqifiThe Georgian Contingent has beendeployed in Kosovo since May 2003.An agreement between the GermanDepartment of Defence andGeorgian Department of Defence toassist in the security and internationalpresence in Kosovo was signedon February 4, 2003. Therefore, theGeorgian Infantry Company wasincluded into the Deutsch NationalElement, MNB (SW)."The main task of the contingent is toprovide security for MNB (SW) HQ,Prizren, Camp Airfield, CampToplicane and Camp Cviljen. Thenumber of personnel is one hundredand fifty. The soldiers perform roundclockduties at the gates, guardiantowers, and patrol of the camps,"said MAJ Besik Berdelidze,Contingent Commander.The soldiers involved with the mission,belong to Georgian FreedomsBattalion, the special trained unitdesigned for use in PSO. "The companyhas been trained in Georgiaduring 3 months and, then, onemonth in Wildfleken, Germany.Every soldier has an experience withKFOR and is dedicated to the mission,"stated MAJ Berdelidze.The soldiers have day shift - day offsequence during the six-months mission."This schedule demandswillpower and a good physical shapefrom my soldiers, as more than 600people and 200 vehicles pass ourguard station per day," said Sgt.Valerian Rostobaia, commander ofthe guard, Camp Prizren. "The mostimportant thing is to pay attention toevery event around you during ashift."One platoon from the contingent islocated in Mamusha, Turkish battalionAOR, MNB (SW). The platoonperforms guarding, patrolling andother missions in the cooperationwith Turkish Contingent.According to 1st LT ZurabChilingarashvili, Deputy CompanyCommander, the skills and experiencethat the contingent gains fromthe KFOR mission will be substantialcontribution into the professionalabilities of Georgian Armed Forces.14 Oct. 31, 2005 www.nato.int/kfor