A peacekeeping brigade may be formed to 2012 in Armenia
According to the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) the peacekeeping brigade of the Armenian Armed Forces must be formed already in 2012, head of International Cooperation and Defense Programs Department of the Armenian Defense Ministry General Mikael Melkonyan stated to a press conference in Yerevan. However, he said the Armenian side may form the above-mentioned brigade already to 2010-2012. "We have bases and trained resources for that purpose. The brigade will be an elite subdivision of the Armenian army," Melkonyan underlined.
Mikael Melkonyan reminded that currently Armenian peacekeepers participate in the peacekeeping and stability mission of Kosovo and Iraq. "Armenian peacekeepers deserved high commendations from U.S. Defense Ministry and NATO for professionalism and training in operations of Kosovo and Iraq," he said. The Armenian contingent in Iraq carries out pure technical tasks within the Polish contingent, and another similar battalion is included in the Greek peacekeeping brigade in Kosovo.
In 2002 the United Nations proclaimed May 29 as Day of Peacekeepers.
Mikael Melkonyan reminded that currently Armenian peacekeepers participate in the peacekeeping and stability mission of Kosovo and Iraq. "Armenian peacekeepers deserved high commendations from U.S. Defense Ministry and NATO for professionalism and training in operations of Kosovo and Iraq," he said. The Armenian contingent in Iraq carries out pure technical tasks within the Polish contingent, and another similar battalion is included in the Greek peacekeeping brigade in Kosovo.
In 2002 the United Nations proclaimed May 29 as Day of Peacekeepers.
