Third Shift of Armenian Peacekeepers to Depart for Iraq till January 21

PanARMENIAN.Net - The third shift of the Armenian peacekeepers was scheduled to depart for Iraq today. Deputy chief of the peacekeeping battalion of the Armenian Armed Forces Mher Shirinyan said the time of the departure had not been fixed by yesterday. 46 Armenian peacekeepers should leave for Kuwait by plane and then make for Iraq by a vehicle. Chief of the department for external relations of the RA Defense Ministry, General Mikael Melkonyan stated that due to some technical reasons C-130 warplane did not arrive in Yerevan to convey Armenian peacekeepers to Kuwait. In the General's words the battalion will depart for Iraq January 18-21. The third shift of the Armenian peacekeepers comprises medical officers, motorcar platoon and combat engineers. They will perform peacekeeping mission in the town of Alkut situated 100 km from Baghdad. The second shift of the Armenian peacekeepers will return from Iraq a week after the arrival of the third shift, reported RFE/RL.