Seventh session of Inter-Agency Coordination Council Held

Tbilisi: The State Security Service of Georgia held the seventh session of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council for the Combat against Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear (QBRB) Threats. Alexi Batiashvili, the First Deputy Head of the State Security Service Chairman of the Coordination Council, opened the meeting.

Alexi Batiashvili on this occasion spoke Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear (QBRB) Threats and also reviewed the work of the Coordination Council over the past year. Alexi Batiashvili further stressed the special importance of constant coordination and involvement by all the member agencies of the Council and also highlighted the efforts made by Georgia in this regard and successful cooperation with international partners.

As per Alexi Batiashvili, “In the present scenario, risks of the terrorist or unlawful use of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies have increased significantly in the world. It is important for Georgia to have close, national coordination on joint approaches in security areas. These security areas include chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear waste etc. At the Coordinating Council today we have a strong actionable mechanism for inter-agency cooperation and information exchange, and this is always emphasised in the relevant reports about Georgia or reports of our international partners”.

At the same time Council members presented reports on activities and results achieved by it in 2023 as part of the National Strategy for Reduction of Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Threats and relevant Action Plan. Moreover, the coordinating Council unanimously supported the approval of the National Action Plan for the Reduction of CRB threats for 2024-2026.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia, First Deputy Minister of Defense Lela Chikovan, First Deputy Minister for IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Protection Tamar Gabunia, Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Solomon Pavliashvili, National Security The head of the Soviet apparatus Givi Tumanishvili and the interior Head of the Emergency Management Service of the Ministry of Affairs, Teimuraz Mghebrishvili were also present on the occasion.

It is worth noting that the meeting was addressed by the Deputy Head of the US Mission, Alan Persel, Deputy Head of Cooperation and Assistance Programs of the European Union Delegation Catalin German and Talgat Tolubaev, the Regional Coordinator of the EU CBRD Risk Reduction Initiative.

This historic and important event was held with the support of the European Union and was attended by 60 representatives of different agencies. The next meeting of the Board will be held next year.