ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER LEAVES FOR IRAQ
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech rep.
Nov 13 2006

Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian left for Iraq on Monday
morning.

Sarkisian gave a press briefing at the airport before departure
during which he told the media that the goal of his visit is to get
acquainted with the daily life and service conditions of Armenian
servicemen in Iraq, as well as to meet Iraq’s defense minister and
leadership of the multinational force.

Asked about the condition of Armenian senior lieutenant Georgi
Nalbandian, who was wounded while on duty in Iraq last week, Sarkisian
said that the officer had been transported to Germany for treatment
and that his life was now out of danger. The minister said that after
recuperation Nalbandian will return to Armenia to continue his service
to the homeland.

The 25-year-old senior lieutenant of the Armenian peacekeeping
contingent in Iraq lost his right leg below the knee in a mine
explosion and received fragmentation wounds to his left leg.

"I express my support for his family and I am sure that we still need
his experience and knowledge," Sarkisian told the media.

"Armenia cannot only be a security consumer. It ought to have its
modest but consistent contribution to the world security processes,"
Sarkisian emphasized. "As time shows, our officers and soldiers are
on an important and difficult mission, but it is first of all Armenia
that needs this mission, and by their duty our soldiers once again
confirm that Armenia is a full-fledged state."

The defense minister said that a considerable number of Armenian
soldiers and officers who have served in Iraq in the past two years
have expanded their knowledge. "Certain officers use their experience
of our [Karabakh] war and some young men just begin to serve in
combat conditions," the defense minister said, adding: "No doubt,
it is useful for us."

The minister also spoke about the prolongation of the term of service
of Armenian peacekeepers in Iraq, saying that the Ministry of Defense
had already submitted a related proposal to the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosian told RFE/RL on Monday
that they haven’t yet received an application from the Ministry
of Defense.

"I think when soldiers are sent to such hotspots no one wants them
to be wounded there and everything is done to avoid that, but it is
impossible to exclude that. I don’t think that people who went there
did not know that there was a certain threat," Torosian said.