ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT VOTES TO EXTEND IRAQ FORCE MANDATE BY ONE YEAR

Agence France Presse — English
December 6, 2006 Wednesday 3:25 PM GMT

The Armenian parliament on Wednesday extended by one year the mandate
of its peacekeeping force in Iraq by a majority of 85 votes to 19.

"The extension of the mandate of the peacekeeping soldiers in Iraq
will improve Armenia’s image and that of its armed forces and will
permit the active development of a partnership in the area of defense
with various states," Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian said
in parliament.

The Armenian peacekeeping force, comprising 46 soldiers, has been in
Iraq since January 25, 2005.

The former Soviet republic works with NATO in the Partnership for
Peace, a military cooperation deal with former Communist bloc countries
to reinforce stability in Europe.