PARTIES HAVE DIFFERENT OPINION ON PROLONGATION OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN IRAQ

Panorama.am
17:06 05/12/06

Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan refuted a statement made an hour
ago which said no country withdrew from peacekeeping mission in
Iraq. After the break he said there are 27 countries with 159,000
soldiers in Iraq and Netherlands and Portugal have withdrawn.

Viktor Dallakyan, member of parliament, also said South Korea and
Italy have also withdrawn.

The interim committee on foreign relations has given a positive
response to the proposal of the president to prolong the term of the
Armenian contingent in Iraq for one more year. The chairman of the
committee, Armen Rustamyan from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnakcutiun) have voted against, however. He said he has expressed
the disposition of his party. Dashnakcutiun was against sending troops
to Iraq and is against prolongation of its term.

Parties expressed different opinions on prolongation of mission with
Justice block saying they will vote against. The voting will take
place tomorrow.