On the basis of existing peacekeeping missions, Armenia is set to integrate a permanent peacekeeping force into the system of the armed services of the country, reported News Armenia, citing an announcement made by Armenia’s Minister of Defense Michael Harutyunyan. The new peacekeeping force will include rapid reaction forces, as well as medical, rescue, engineering and ceasefire enforcement units. According to the minister, reported the news source, the decision to establish the new forces was in part prompted by the success of current peacekeeping missions carried out by Armenian servicemen in various regions of the world.

Since February 2004, 34 Armenian soldiers participate in a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo within the framework of Greece’s battalion there, and 46 others serve in Iraq since January 2005 together with the Polish division.

This information was originally published May 23, 2007 (www.newsarmenia.ru)