During the opening event, which took place on the 15th anniversary of the Georgian armed forces, Okruashvili and other government officials were quick to dismiss allegations that the base was built to threaten Sukhumi. According to the minister, the base has meant jobs for hundreds of locals, which is adding to the economic development of a very depressed part of the country. Other government officials pointed out that for an offensive attack against Abkhazia they would have built the base in Zugdidi, a town much closer to the Abkhaz border than Senaki.

The controversy surrounding the base did not stop Okruashvili, on the day of the opening, from stating on a popular television news program that if Tskhinvali is not part of Georgia by January 1, 2007, he will resign. Even though he referred to the region of South Ossetia which is in a completely different part of the country, conflict analysts criticized the defense minister for his lack of sensitivity. Officials close to the peace process with both territories were quick to distance themselves from his statements. Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava responded, calling the statement ‘groundless’ and remarking that bellicose announcements only make the tense situation between Tbilisi and separatist governments worse.

The defense minister also used the base’s opening to clear the air concerning the ministry’s spending. According to Georgian media reports, construction of the base will cost the ministry a little over $20 million once it is completed this year. Okruashvili said the government paid a little less than half of that from the state budget; $5 million reportedly came from the army fund supported by Georgian businessmen.

This fund has been the subject of controversy and scandal for over a year. According to members of NATO states close to the integration process, the funds have been a source of concern for the alliance. The Georgian government announced the funds closed late last year, although military analysts still complain there is no independent oversight commission to watch the ministry’s spending.

Transparency concerns aside, the base represents a whole new world for Georgian soldiers. While drafted soldiers still complain of poor conditions and the lack of proper meals, the base in Senaki provides state of the art comfort for 3,500 volunteer servicemen and women. According to the ministry, upon completion there will be separate officer quarters and a sports hall. The base has been totted as meeting ‘NATO’ standards. While it is unclear exactly what is meant by that definition, the Senaki base is certainly an improvement over older bases. Another such base is scheduled to be built in Akhalkalaki, according to Georgian media reports, once the Russian base has been dismantled and removed.

According to Okruashvili, this base symbolizes the Georgian army’s transition from a mostly drafted army to a professional one: in a televised interview he noted that over half the army is now volunteers instead of conscripts and by 2009 the entire armed force will be volunteers. During his speech at the opening, he noted that volunteers were paid over $200 a month in 2005 while conscripts received less than $10.

The base is a bright new face for the Georgian military and a symbol of a dedicated ministry that can provide for its army. However, while the ministry spent an estimated 10 percent of its budget on the Senaki base, critics point out that conscript soldiers are still deserting their stations due to substandard living conditions and insufficient food. The Senaki base is a good beginning on the road toward NATO, but a strong military starts with well-fed soldiers throughout the country. If the defense ministry wants to prove to the world that Georgia is ready to join the NATO alliance, taking care of the conscripts would be a good first step.