In comments to reporters during his visit to Moscow on 10 August, Defense Minister Baramidze stated that Georgia is prepared to increase its deployment of troops to Iraq. The Georgian military presence in Iraq is limited to a U.S.-trained Georgian company of 159 men, currently stationed in northern Iraq but preparing to be assigned to guard the UN mission in Baghdad. Defense Ministry officials are also quoted by the Caucasus Press on 10 August as confirming that Baramidze will conduct \"a fact-finding visit\" to Iraq from 15-18 August. (Caucasus Press)