Armenia not going to withdraw peacekeepers from Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - Despite Poland's decision, Armenia will hardly withdraw peacekeepers from Iraq, said Artur Aghabekian, chairman of the parliamentary committee on defense, national security and internal affairs. "Armenia fulfills peacekeeping mission in the framework of the Armenian-American cooperation and it has nothing to do with the Armenian-Polish military technical cooperation.



Aghabekian reminded that Armenia has prolonged presence of its peacekeeping contingent in Iraq but can reconsider its decision any time. "Withdrawal of Polish troops now or in a year is not a problem," he said. "I do not think the multinational division will break up after Poland secedes."



December 18, the Polish government decreed to withdraw troops from Iraq in 2008.



December 4, the Armenian National Assembly decided to prolong the terms of the Memorandum on command and regulations of multinational division within coalition forces in Iraq.



Armenian peacekeepers have been serving in Iraq since January 25, 2004. Presently, the sixth shift, consisting of 2 staff officers, 3 medical officers, 10 field engineers and 31 drivers, is in Iraq.