Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
March 6, 2008 Thursday
Armenia not to withdraw servicemen from Kosovo, Iraq
YEREVAN March 6
Armenian servicemen will continue their missions in Kosovo and Iraq,
Chief-of-Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Seyran Oganian said.
"Armenia ought to implement its obligation on providing security in
this or any other world region, on the international arena, being not
only a beneficiary of but a participant in the system of world
security," Oganian told a press conference in Yerevan on Thursday.
When carrying out peacekeeping missions, Armenia has gained respect
not only from superpowers but from authoritative international
organizations including those participating in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"We have demonstrated that Armenian Armed Forces not only ensure
national independence and inviolability of frontiers, but also
accomplish missions in Kosovo and Iraq with a high degree of
responsibility," Oganian said.
Armenian servicemen have participated in the peacekeeping mission in
Kosovo as part of the Greek battalion from February 2004, and in Iraq
-as part of the Polish division from January 2005. A total of 400
Armenian servicemen have taken part in peaceful operations.
Currently, the seventh shift of 46 Armenian servicemen are currently
in Iraq, while 34 Armenian peacekeepers serve in Kosovo. From 2008,
it is planned to increase the number of Armenian peacekeepers in
Kosovo to the level of a company. In addition, talks on Armenian
participation in peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan at the level of
liaison officers are planned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
