SERGE SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS SHOULD CONTINUE THE MISSION IN IRAQ

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

"I think that Armenian peacekeepers should continue carrying out
peacekeeping mission in Iraq," Secretary of the Presidential Council
on National Security, RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan told
"Armenpress." The deadline for the memorandum of understanding on
"Commanding the multinational division within the stability forces
of Iraq and regulation of similar questions" is December 2006. The
Minister noted that the decision on prolonging the term of the
memorandum should be taken by the National Assembly.

At the suggestion of RA Defense Minister and with the decision of
the National Assembly the memorandum was once prolonged last year. In
January and June 2006 the Armenian military division comprised of 46
people left for Iraq to carry out peacekeeping mission within the
Polish division. The Armenian military unit will stay in Iraq by
January 2007.

Up to now 354 peacekeepers have already carried out peacekeeping
missions in Iraq and Kosovo.