Angelika Schaefer

Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Begoidze was born 24 April 1971 in Vladikavkaz, Russian Federation. In 1993 he was graduated from the North–Ossetian State University with specialty “linguistics”. Simultaneously, he was graduated from the junior officers course (reserve lieutenant, artillery) of the same University. In 1997 he joined the Georgian Armed forces and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 1997-1998 he was serving in the Department of International relations of Georgian Ministry of Defense as an officer expert. Then, he served until 2000 on the position of executive officer in the PfP Department of Georgian General Staff and was promoted to the rank of Captain. In 2000-2004 he was the Chief of Branch in PfP Department. In 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Major. From 2002 till 2003 Lt.Col. Begoidze studied in the French Army Staff School (Ecole d’Etat Major, Compiegne). In 2004 he was appointed on the position of Chief of PfP Department of General Staff. In 2005 he entered the French War College (College Interarmees de Defense, Paris). After graduation from the College, in 2006, he served as a Senior Operational Officer in Georgian Land Force Command and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 2006-2007 he served as Chief of Plans and Policy Branch of J5 Department of the Georgian Joint Staff. Then, he was appointed on the position of Deputy Chief of J5 Department. Since November 2007, Lt.Col. Omar Begoidze is serving on the position of Georgian Military Representative to NATO, Brussels, Belgium. Lt.Col. Begoidze speaks English, French and Russian. He is married, has a son.