The Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and the Charge D ‘Affairs of the US Embassy to Georgia, Ms. Elizabeth Rood have opened a new building at “Khriani” Border Sector of Akhaktsikhe Regional Division of the Land Border Protection Department of Border Police.
Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, US Embassy to Georgia and the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) attended the opening ceremony.
Vakhtang Gomelauri expressed his gratitude to Ms. Elizabeth Rood for the invaluable contribution that the US Government has been making to develop the Georgian Border Police and particularly to the Land Border and the Coast Guard.
The Minister of Internal Affairs also thanked the Border Guards for their service and wished them success.
“Border direction is of great importance. Since 2013, we have started the construction of new sectors and several dozen of border sectors and divisions have been built so far. Our partners have contributed greatly to this process. Support of the United States of America is also very important for the development of the Coast Guard. We have to credit them for the fact that we have Coast Guard that we are so proud of. Naturally, these new facilities will mitigate the severity of conditions for the border guards, where they serve. I have visited several border sectors during 2013-2014, mostly in my capacity as a responsible Deputy Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs. The climate conditions are truly severe. We will do our best to build additional sectors” – was mentioned by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri during the opening ceremony.
“It is a great honor for me to open this border sector here at “Khriani” together with Minister Gomelauri. We have longstanding cooperation with the border police and are proud of accomplishing 9 joint projects through Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the US Government. This partnership is very good not only for strengthening the territorial integrity of Georgia but also for making a big contribution to global and regional security – stated Elizabeth Rood, Charg d’affaires of the US”.
Guests were hosted by Temur Kekelidze, Head of the Border Police, who lead them during the tour of the new building and infrastructure.
Minister of Internal Affairs and the Charg d’affaires also visited the old building, where the border guards had to serve previously.
Border sector “Khriani” is a new facility built according to modern standards that is located at 2450m altitude. The facility was built within the framework of the infrastructural renovation project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and will serve the 18-kilometer section of the Georgian-Turkish border. The Building is equipped with modern facilities.
The construction of the facility was funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
