ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GETS FIRST HAND VIEW OF OPERATIVE SITUATION IN IRAQ

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006

Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan held a number of meetings
with high-ranking officials in Iraq on November 14, Armenian Defense
Ministry press-service told ArmInfo.

During a meeting with his Iraqi colleague, Major General Abdul
Qader al-Obeidi, Serge Sargsyan discussed the domestic political
situation in Iraq, the national and regional security tasks, as
well as the problems of the local Armenian community. In addition,
Armenian minister discussed the operative situation in Iraq and the
plans of the coalition forces with Commander of U.S. troops in Iraq,
General George Casey. Serge Sargsyan met also with Commander of
Multi- national Division Center-South, Polish Major General Boleslav
Kwiatowsky and got first hand information on the situation in the zone
under responsibility of the division. After the official meetings,
Minister Sargsyan visited Armenian peacemakers.

Armenia has been participating in the peacemaking mission in Iraq since
January 25 2005. At present, the fourth group of Armenian peacemakers
is in Iraq. The group comprises 46 servicemen: three staff officers,
two physicians, 10 sappers and 31 drivers.