Armenian peacekeepers leave for Iraq
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
18 Jan 05
[Presenter] A 46-strong group of specialists of the Armenian armed
forces today left for Iraq on a six-month humanitarian and
peacekeeping mission.
As it was planned, a commander, a representative under the Polish
command [as heard], a platoon commander, 30 drivers, 10 sappers and
three doctors – a therapist, a cardiologist and a psychiatrist left
for Iraq.
The Armenian peacekeepers will serve in Iraq as part of a
multinational division under the US and Polish commands. The Armenian
side will pay them a monthly salary worth 1,000 dollars.
The Armenian peacekeepers will stay in Kuwait for two weeks and then
leave for Iraq’s town of Karbala.
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and US ambassador to Armenia
John Evans attended a solemn ceremony of dispatching the peacekeepers.
[Sarkisyan, captioned, shown addressing the ceremony] The Republic of
Armenia is taking part in a humanitarian mission in Iraq. The
international community has repeatedly rendered assistance to Armenia,
and today is Armenia’s turn to take part in the international
peacekeeping mission.
This is not only a routine mission, but a mission of high
responsibility helping Armenia’s integration into the international
community. We cannot be outside the international efforts for
establishing peace and stability in our region and mostly in Iraq.
[Video showed the ceremony at airport]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress