Armenia to decide on sending troops to Iraq

ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 23, 2004 Thursday

YEREVAN, December 24 – The Armenian parliament will decide Friday
whether to send military servicemen to Iraq. On Thursday the
parliamentary committee on foreign relations and defense recommended
to approve the move.

Yet in June Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said some 50
military drivers, engineers and doctors may be sent to Iraq. He said
the volunteers will engage exclusively in humanitarian missions.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oganesyan rejected allegations that
Russia was pressing Yerevan to refrain from sending servicemen to Iraq.

US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans said the US administration welcomed
the Armenian plans to send troops to Iraq.