ARMENIA PLANS AFGHAN CONTINGENT
Associated Press Worldstream
July 21, 2009 Tuesday 8:09 PM GMT
Armenia’s defense minister says the former Soviet republic will send
forces to Afghanistan by the end of the year.
Seyran Oganian said Tuesday that Armenia is discussing details of
the deployment with Germany.
He did not say how many servicemen would be sent to contribute to
NATO and U.S. operations.
Officials have said Armenia would likely send munitions experts and
communications officers.
Armenia had nearly 50 military personnel in Iraq but withdrew its
contingent earlier this year.
Oganian says some Armenians who fought in the Soviet Union’s
unsuccessful 1980s war in Afghanistan want to return as part of the
new force.