Donation of Scientific Equipment and Vehicles to Ministry of Environment (July 13, 2009)
On July 13 Ambassador John F. Tefft donated $238,000 worth of scientific equipment and vehicles to the Georgian government in support of the 2007 bilateral agreement to improve Georgia's capabilities to combat nuclear smuggling. The transfer ceremony and displayed equipment in the Embassy courtyard received wide broadcast coverage on national TV channels. Minister of Environmental Protection Giorgi Khachidze personally drove one of the donated vehicles with Ambassador Tefft in the passenger seat. This donation has been coordinated and funded by the Export Control and Related Border Security program, a U.S. Department of State initiative that is working with the Georgian government to control the international movement of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems.