YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenian and Georgian servicemen are taking part in 25-day military exercises which were launched in the military educational facility of Sachkheri (Imereti region), the Georgian defense ministry said.

The decision on the Armenian participation was made during defense minister Vigen Sargsyan’s 2016 December visit to Tbilisi. In addition to Armenian and Georgian servicemen, soldiers from Lithuania and France are also taking part in the exercises.

The winter exercises consist of two stages. Initially the servicemen will carry out firearm training in the mountainous terrain of the Orfolo range. Afterwards the soldiers will depart for the Gudauri ski resort, where they will engage in skiing, training in search and rescue operations during avalanches and construction of shelters. Servicemen will receive certificates and badges after completion of the events.

The Sachkheri military education school was founded in 2004. In 2010 the facility was granted the status of NATO education and training center in the circles of “Partnership for Peace”.