Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

The Georgian government approved the National Military Strategy.

The document underscores that Georgia still faces serious threats and challenges, which is primarily due to the occupation of its territories and the risk of the escalation of conflicts.

The absence of international peacekeeping forces in Georgia's occupied territories and the militarization of these areas increase the risk of provocations and military aggression, the strategy reads.

"All this creates a threat to the security of not only Georgia, but also the region, and prevents the country's stable development. Based on this, the de-occupation of territories and restoration of territorial integrity in a peaceful way remains the main goal of Georgia's security policy," the document further noted. "Georgia is pursuing a good-neighborly policy, within which a great attention is being paid to making contribution to strengthening of peace and stability at the regional and international levels."

The document also indicates that Russia is a major source of instability.

The risks and threats list also included regional instability, transnational and cyber threats, natural and man-made disasters.

"The international terrorism and transnational organized crime pose a threat not only to individual countries, but also to the global security. The occupation of Georgian territories creates a favorable environment for international terrorism and transnational organized crime," the document says. "Also, there is a danger of using the occupied territories for such illegal activities as smuggling, trafficking and trade in drugs, arms and mass destruction weapons."

Large scale military action was launched between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -South Ossetia and Abkhazia- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.