Armenia to Start Creating Second Peacekeeping Battalion in 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Defense Ministry of Armenia plans to launch a process of creation of a second peacekeeping battalion, Armenian Deputy Defense Minister, lieutenant general Artur Aghabekyan told journalists November 14 at the seeing-off ceremony of the 6th shift of Armenian peacekeepers to Kosovo. In his words, «the battalion should eventually become one of major efficient detachments of our Armed Forces. It is fulfilling a peacekeeping mission today, in case of need it may have a mission within the borders of the republic in the future.» Aghabekyan also reported that Armenian servicemen have acquired much experience in cooperation. «If only officers took part in cooperation before, now sergeants and privates participate in various international events for enhancement of professional training,» the Deputy Minister said.



«There is an order by the Defense Minister on the schedule of recruitment of the battalion. According to the commitments, assumed within international military cooperation, we should have a full peacekeeping battalion by 2010,» the lieutenant general reported, noting that recruitment is temporarily ceased now «not to pass ahead of the schedule.» «The youth are willing to serve in the battalion,» he added. The Deputy Minister reported 60 applications are received by the moment and the battalion will be fully recruited in the first quarter of the next year.» He also added that young people, who have served at the Armenian Armed Forces, can serve in the battalion. «We expect that the peacekeeping battalion will turn into a brigade in the future," he remarked, reports IA Regnum.