US Defense Secretary arrives in "strategic" Georgia

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has arrived in Tbilisi. Rosbalt reports that Rumsfeld was met at the airport in Tbilisi by Georgian Defense Minister David Tevzadze.

Rumsfeld declined to make any comments. He arrived from Afghanistan. Before his visit in Afghanistan, he was in Baku where he participated in talks with Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev.

From the airport in Tbilisi, Rumsfeld headed for the Krtsanissky military polygon in order to inspect the conduct of the program 'studying and equipping' in Georgia, which is financed by the US government. US military instructors are preparing approximately 3 thousand commandos in Georgia.

After his inspection at the polygon, Rumsfeld heads for the State Chancellery, where talks are being held with interim President Nino Burdzhonadze, State Minister Zurab Zhvaniya, National Movement leader and candidate for president Mikhail Saakashvili and Tevzadze. Questions of regional security, settling conflicts in the Caucasus and introducing the region to new standards of security are on the agenda. Rumsfeld's visit is connected with the change of power in Azerbaijan and Georgia.