ARMENIA AGAIN EXTENDS TROOP PRESENCE IN IRAQ
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 4 2007
The National Assembly allowed President Robert Kocharian on Tuesday
to extend by another year Armenia’s modest military presence in Iraq.
Lawmakers voted by 79 to 10, with 11 abstentions, for an appropriate
motion put on behalf of Kocharian by Defense Minister Mikael
Harutiunian.
The Kocharian administration decided to send a small military force
to Iraq three years ago despite strong domestic opposition stemming
from fears of terrorist reprisals against the war-torn nation’s
Armenian community. The 46 Armenian sappers, military doctors and
other non-combat army personnel rotated every six months have been
serving there as part of a Polish-led multinational division.
Addressing the parliament, Harutiunian described Armenia’s
participation in the U.S.-led occupation force as a "humanitarian
mission." He stressed the fact that the Armenian troops in Iraq do
not take in combat operations.
As always, not all lawmakers were convinced. Deputies from the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), a junior partner in the
governing coalition, and the opposition Zharangutyun party voted
against the extension or abstained. Members of the other opposition
parliamentary force, the Orinats Yerkir Party, did not take part in
the vote.
The Armenian military deployment in Iraq highlighted Armenia’s growing
military ties with the United States. Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
underscored the mission’s political significance for Yerevan when
he visited Iraq in November 2006 in his then capacity as defense
minister. Addressing the parliament upon his return to Yerevan,
he said the largely symbolic troop presence "adds to Armenia’s
international standing."
Neither Sarkisian, nor other Armenian leaders have set any deadlines
for the contingent’s eventual withdrawal.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
