Armenia to Carry Out Peacekeeping Mission in Mali

YEREVAN — Armenian armed forces officer will join the international peacekeeping mission in Mali, defense minister Seyran Ohanian said today after visiting troops deployed in north-eastern Noyemberian section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border zone.

“Armenia’s involvement in international peacekeeping operations is aimed not only at increasing the international prestige of our country and helping build a pro-Armenian position in the world, but also at prevention and mitigation of possible threats (to Armenia) outside the country”, the minister said.

“Armenian peacekeepers are carrying out their missions in Afghanistan, as well as in Kosovo and Lebanon. Now there is an agreement to have another officer of the Armenian army be sent to Mali in June or July,”the minister said.

Armenia has been contributing to international peacekeeping missions since 2004. In Lebanon they are deployed in southern Shalma, Italbat and Al Mansouri. They are being rotated every six months.