Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the "combat spirit" and combat skills of Georgia's armed forces.
"Today we have made sure yet again that, despite the attempts of the enemy of Georgia to first of all crush our armed forces and demoralize our officers, our troops, corporals and sergeants, not only have we been able to preserve our combat spirit and remain in good combat shape but we have also been able over the past few years to continue rapid modernization [of the armed forces]," Saakashvili said in an address to troops during a visit to the training ground of the Vaziani military base, the site of a large-scale military exercise on Saturday.
"The Georgian armed forces will be well-trained and well-armed and ready to carry out all the tasks that are nearly unfeasible and that history will set us," he said.
"Of course, in exercises one has a hypothetical enemy, but we know very well who invaded Georgia and who occupied part of our territory, and who has aggressive plans about Georgia," the president said.
He promised that his government would give maximum support to the armed forces.
The Vaziani 2011 exercise brings together infantry, aircraft, including drones, artillery, engineers and tanks. Altogether about 700 troops are involved, the Defense Ministry said.
The exercise involves training action to prevent a potential invader from creating a bridgehead in Georgia and moving deeper into the country.
Georgia’s armed forces are celebrating their 20th anniversary on Saturday.
