Armenia to Contribute Troops to UN Interim Force in Lebanon

BRUSSELS — On a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan had a meeting with Italian Defense Minister, Mrs. Roberta Pinotti.

The parties discussed issues related to bilateral military cooperation. The Italian side hailed Armenia’s participation in the international peacekeeping missions, especially emphasizing Armenia’s willingness to contribute troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The parties agreed that the joint participation in international peacekeeping operations will give new impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation in the fields of military police, military education and others.

The two countries’ Defense Ministers discussed issues of international and regional security. In this context Minister Ohanyan praised Italy’s constructive and balanced position on regional issues.

At the end of the meeting the Ministers of the two countries signed a technical agreement on cooperation and support between the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Lebanon within the framework of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which regulates the procedure of inclusion of the Armenian peacekeeping platoon in the Italian UNIFIL contingent.

While in Brussels a delegation headed by Defense Minister Ohanyan on Wednesday also participated in a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers and their counterparts from ISAF partner nations, at the NATO Headquarters.

The Armenian delegation that arrived in Brussels at NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s invitation reaffirmed its willingness to go on contributing to the ISAF mission.