ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT IRAQ AS ARMENIA TO EXTEND SMALL TROOP PRESENCE
The Associated Press

International Herald Tribune, France
Nov 13 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia: Armenia will extend the mission of its nearly
four-dozen troops serving in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq for another
year, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian said Monday as he left on a
visit to the country.

Sarkisian said that the government had asked parliament to approve
an extension of the deployment.

The mission has met with criticism from opposition parties in this
former Soviet republic, many Armenians and even the 30,000-strong
Armenian community in Iraq, which fears being targeted for attacks.

Sarkisian said he would hold talks with his Iraqi counterpart during
his trip and visit the 46-member Armenian contingent, which has been
deployed in Iraq since January 2005 and was due to end its mission
at the end of this year.

President Robert Kocharian and his government have sought to portray
the deployment as a way to boost ties with Europe. The contingent
serves under Polish command.

On Saturday, Armenian officials announced that an officer was wounded
while defusing land mines and had to have his foot amputated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress