Georgian parliament approves sending peacekeeping troops to Central African Republic

The Georgian parliament on Friday endorsed President Giorgi Margvelashvili's request to join the European Union's (EU) peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAF). "The EU requested Georgia to take part in its peace-keeping operation...by taking into view the fact that Georgia's armed forces have enough experience to fulfill this mission," said Georgian national security council secretary Irina Imerlishvili. The two sides signed in November 2013 a framework agreement on Georgia's participation in the EU crisis management operations. Friday's bill, approved by a vote of 106 to 1, allows Georgia to send a company-size unit of troops for a period of six months for the peacekeeping mission, which will start in May. It will be the first time for Georgia to contribute troops to EU military operations.