ARMENIA PLANS TO SEND 40-STRONG MILITARY SUB-UNIT TO AFGHANISTAN IN EARLY 2010

Noyan Tapan
Dec 8, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on
December 7 discussed the agreements on regulation of legal and
financial issues with the NATO in connection with the participation
of a sub-unit of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia as
part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
(ISAF). The indicated agreements had been presented by the Armenian
president for ratifiaction.

The main speaker, RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanian said that
ISAF is a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan
established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December
2001. Armenia as a full and equal member of the international community
must make its contribution to the cause of ensuring the international
security. It was stated that since 2004 Armenia has taken an active
part in international peacekeeping missions, particularly in Iraq
and Kosovo.

The minister said that in case of the agreements’ ratification, Armenia
will send a 40-strong sub-unit consisting of a infantry platoon,
a military doctor and three staff officers to Kunduz Province in
Afghanistan. The major mission of the Armenian sub-unit to act under
German command will be protection of the airport landing strip and
structures in the city of Kunduz.

In the words of S. Ohanian, it has been agreed with the German side
that under an interdepartmental agreement to be signed with Germany’s
Federal Ministry of Defence, the German side will be obliged to cover
a considerable part of the Armenian side’s financial obligations
envisaged by the agreement: the expenses on transportation, arms,
accommodation and medical services of the Armenian sub-unit. The
Armenian side is obliged to cover the expenses on wages of the mission
participants. In case of ratification of the agreements, the Armenian
sub-unit will leave for Afghanistan in February 2010.