08.06.2012
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri headed the handover ceremony of two American patrol boats to Georgian Coast Guard.
The ceremony took place in passenger terminal of Batumi port on June 5.
Built in mid 80's, the boats were repaired and modernized on funds appropriated by the US Department of State.
Those boats are meant to patrol eastern part of the Black Sea along Georgia coast. They are armed with machineguns and 35-mm automatic gun mounts. Having been considerably renewed, Georgian Navy recovered its strength up to the level of Aug 2008.
"This ship and its sister ships represent the resilience of Georgia's national spirit and the endurance of your sovereignty. America stands with you. We will not waver in our support for Georgia and your territorial integrity", said Mrs. Clinton at the ceremony.
The US bankrolled $10 mln to Georgian Government under the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program; in particular, $4 mln for reconstruction of harbor and base in Poti.
Coast-based radar was put in operation in Anaklia, Georgia in 2010. That was the last out of three radars financed and constructed by the US Engineer Corps.
Another indicative evidence of tightening US-Georgian military cooperation in the recent 4 years is frequent visits of US Navy's ships to Georgian ports. Even
Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser CG-58 USS
Philippine Sea paid a formal call at Batumi port on Oct 19, 2011.
