U.S. EXPECTS CONTINUED ARMENIAN TROOP PRESENCE IN IRAQ
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Jan 11 2007

The United States expects Armenia to maintain its modest military
presence in Iraq after a change in U.S. war strategy announced by
President George W. Bush, a senior American diplomat said on Thursday.

Anthony Godfrey, the U.S. charge d’affaires in Yerevan, praised the
Armenian parliament’s decision last month to extend by another year the
mandate of a small unit of non-combat Armenian troops stationed there.

"The recent decision by the National Assembly and the recent statements
by the defense minister made clear that Armenia understands that
it must be a contributor to international security," Godfrey told
reporters. "This is important and dangerous work, and we very much
appreciate it."

"We hope that Armenia will continue to be with us as we work to
accomplish this goal," he said, referring to Bush’s pledge to crush
the Iraqi insurgency by sending thousands more U.S. troops and shoring
up Iraq’s fledgling security forces.

Forty-six Armenian servicemen — most of them doctors, demining experts
and military truck drivers — were deployed in a mainly Shia-populated
region of Iraq nearly two years ago and are rotated once in every six
months. The unpopular deployment reflected the Armenian government’s
drive to forge closer security links with the West and the United
States in particular.

Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian underlined the mission’s
significance for Yerevan when he visited Iraq last November to
inspect the Armenian contingent and meet the U.S. military command
on the ground. Addressing the Armenian parliament on December 5,
Sarkisian said the largely symbolic troop presence "adds to Armenia’s
international standing." Neither he nor other Armenian leaders have
set any deadlines for the contingent’s eventual withdrawal despite
the worsening security situation in Iraq.

Bush’s controversial decision to reinforce the U.S.-led occupation
force with more than 20,000 troops may well mean that the Armenian
servicemen will remain in Iraq for several more years. According to
Godfrey, Washington would only welcome an increase in their number.

"Certainly the United States would welcome an increase," the diplomat
said. "Specifics of this have not been discussed with the government
of Armenia. Right now Armenia is making a significant, for Armenia,
contribution, and the United States looks to help improve Armenia’s
abilities to contribute to international security."

In Godfrey’s words, the U.S. will specifically carry on with its
"very significant" assistance to a special peace-keeping battalion
of the Armenian Armed Forces that provides personnel for Yerevan’s
ongoing missions in Iraq and Kosovo. The Armenian Defense Ministry
plans to turn it into a much bigger unit. The volunteer force will
soon be boosted by a U.S.-equipped medical detachment.

Speaking to RFE/RL and two Armenian television stations, Godfrey
indicated that this could pave the way for Armenian involvement in
other conflict zones such as Afghanistan. "As Armenia develops its
peace-keeping capabilities and the U.S. government is providing
significant assistance in this, we hope that it will increase its
deployment [abroad]," he said.

Godfrey would not say whether a tougher U.S. line on Iran signaled
by Bush would make it more difficult for Armenia to deepen political
and especially economic ties with the Islamic Republic. But he did
reveal that Washington has sought fresh assurances that Yerevan will
cooperate with the international community in its efforts to prevent
Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

"We have been engaged with the government of Armenia, especially since
the passage of the new UN Security Council resolution on Iran," the
envoy said. "Armenia has made commitments to abide by this resolution."