YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Grigor Ghonjeyan from the United Labor Party’s parliamentary faction was the only parliament deputy who said openly their faction welcomes the decision on sending a non-combat contingent to Iraq, saying the faction would back it when the parliament starts debates. On Wednesday Armenia’s Constitutional Court paved the way for debates ruling that the decision does not run counter to Armenia’s Constitution.
He said Armenia’s joining the US-led coalition of international forces would raise the country’s international image. He said the interim government of Iraq and the local Armenian community did not speak against Armenians presence. However, his latest remark was wrong as the Armenian community asked Armenian authorities not to send its troops, saying it would prompt Islamic insurgents to take retaliatory measures against local Armenians putting their lives at higher risks.
Representatives of other factions refrained from comments saying they would express their views when the issue would be debated and only Viktor Dalakian from the opposition Ardarutyun alliance said they would vote against.
If the decision goes through about 50 Armenian military doctors, sappers and truck drivers will be placed under Polish command in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters after Wednesday Constitutional Court hearing of the issue defense minister Serzh Sarkisian said Yerevan will send its nationals to Iraq on condition that the Armenian military personnel take part only in “defensive and humanitarian activities” and avoid joint actions with the bigger Azerbaijani contingent. According to some estimations, there is a 25,000-strong Armenian community in Iraq.
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