Brussels: Georgia has pledged 150 troops to a European Union military force of around 600 that is to be sent to the troubled Central African Republic because it is "morally right" to do so.
Speaking to AFP, Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Alasania said that for the small ex-Soviet Caucasus state neighbouring Russia "this is not only to give help to the EU but for us it is also a moral mission".
Georgia`s contribution to the force to help French and African Union troops head off a horrific spiral of sectarian violence in CAR will be the nation`s first involvement in an EU security and defence mission and its first operation in Africa.
The force, which Alasania said currently numbers 600 but which could see new contributions at talks next week, so far includes a large majority of soldiers from eastern Europe.
Poland is expected to provide some 140 soldiers, with Estonia, Latvia and Romania each pledging up to 50 which should head to CAR next month. France, Portugal and Spain are other likely contributors.
"We are future members of the EU and we are future members of NATO, so our commitment is also a commitment to the common values," said Alasania, stressing that the decision had been approved by both the majority and the opposition in parliament.
Georgia, which along with Ukraine is one of six ex-Soviet satellites involved in the EU`s Eastern Partnership scheme to bolster mutual ties, will also contribute a few officers to a separate EU military mission to train Mali`s army, he said.
