Third Shift of Armenian Peacekeepers Left for Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - January 21 a ceremony of seeing-off the third shift of Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq was held. Armenian Deputy Defense Minister, major general Artur Aghabekyan today saw off the peacekeepers. When addressing those gathered he specifically said he was sure that Armenian peacekeepers "will meeting their commitments with honor." In a conversation with journalists he reported that the second shift of Armenian peacekeepers "will return to Kuwait tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and then will arrive in Yerevan." Artur Aghabekyan also remarked that some structural changes took place in the division owing to the withdrawal of the Ukrainian contingent, "however goals and tasks remain unchanged."



It should be reminded that rotation of Armenian peacekeepers in Iraq was scheduled January 18, however it was postponed owing to technical reasons. The first shift of peacekeepers was sent to Iraq January 2005, the second, which is still there, was sent is July. The group includes 46 servicemen, including 30 drivers, 3 physicians, 10 sappers, 1 liaison officer, platoon commander and an officer that is the common commander. They are fulfilling their mission as part of the Polish division, reported IA Regnum.