NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy thanked Armenia on behalf of the alliance for expansion of ISAF Peacekeeping Mission in Afghanistan.

As Stefanie Babst stated during Yerevan-Brussels TV spacebridge, “extending beyond the sphere of military reforms, Armenia-NATO cooperation also covers struggle against terrorism and coping with natural disasters.”

On June 20, 81 members of Armenian Armed Forces' peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan were deployed at Mazar-e-Sharif military base. On June 21, Armenian peacemakers entered upon their duties, Armenian Defence Ministry press service reported.

On May 11, Armenian parliament ratified an agreement on regulation of legal issues with NATO in reference to Armenian Armed Forces' peacekeeping mission to Afghanistan.

The agreement envisages extension of deployment term till December 31, 2012 with the peacekeepers' number to be increased to 130. At present, 45 peacekeepers are serving in Afghanistan.

As Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan stated earlier, increase of Armenian peacekeepers number and extension of their deployment serves the interests of the country, also promoting Armenia-NATO cooperation.