The Armenian parliament on Dec. 24 approved a controversial government plan to send 43 troops and medics to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
Ninety-one deputies voted in favor of the proposal, with 23 against and one abstention, despite fears from opposition groups that the deployment would endanger the large Armenian diaspora in the Arab world.
Opposition parties and youth organizations have warned that insurgents could target the 20,000 ethnic Armenians in Iraq if the troops join the U.S.-led campaign.
Under the plan backed by President Robert Kocharian, the non-combatant troops — including doctors, mine-clearers and drivers — would serve under Polish command south of Baghdad for one year.
They are expected to arrive in Iraq in February.
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