VZCZCXRO9748
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSI #1239 1991228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171228Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9770
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS TBILISI 001239 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: POLOFF DISCUSSES TROOP LEVEL AND DEFENSE SPENDING 
INCREASE WITH MFA 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Poloff met with the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) Desk Officer for the United States, Irakli 
Machitidze, Director of Department of International 
Organizations, Alexander Nalbandov and Head of NATO Division, 
Tornike Parulava regarding press reports that Georgia is 
planning to increase their troop numbers by 5000 while also 
increasing their military spending. Parulava told Poloff that 
this will not be a sixth brigade, instead, the 5000 troops 
will be dispersed amongst the current five brigades and 
Parulava emphasized there are no plans to create a sixth 
brigade.  According to Parulava, the 5000 troops will mainly 
support the air force and the Ministry of Defense is 
specifically seeking people with technical backgrounds such 
as engineers.  Nika Rurua, Deputy Chairman for Defense and 
Security confirmed to the Ambassador that Georgia will not 
create a sixth brigade. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Parulava informed Poloff that the decision to 
increase military spending and troop numbers was made quickly 
because Parliament was dispersing for the summer and a 
decision was needed immediately.  The additional troops will 
be used to support domestic troop levels including 
peacekeeping operations.  In addition, Georgia is currently 
reworking their Threat Assessment because it is outdated and 
no longer accounts for the imminent Russian threat. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Parulava informed Poloff on 16 July that Deputy 
Defense Minister Muchaidze is currently in Brussels to 
discuss Georgia's decision with NATO officials though 
Parulava does not anticipate any problems because Georgia is 
still under the CFE troop limits. 
TEFFT