YESTERDAY
THE PARLIAMENT VOTED FOR SENDING MILITARY FORCES CONSISTED OF 46 MEMBERS TO IRAQThe
NA special sitting lasted till midnight yesterday. The whole parliament and Government
were in the NA. The legislative body hasn’t been such crowded for a long time.
The parliament discussed and ratified by 91 for, 23 against and 1 abstained the
memorandum of mutual understanding on "Ruling the multi-national division
and regulating other such kind of things in the stabilization forces of Iraq".
The "National Unity" and "Justice" opposition factions also
took part in the sitting. The deputies were joking sometimes, some deputies were
glad of the opposition’s presence, some deputies explained the extension of the
sitting by opposition’s activity, some deputies suggested the easiest way of solving
the issue: to give Arshak Sadoyan the rank of general and send him to Iraq. But
more seriously yesterday was rather hard day for the legislative, executive and
the fourth authorities of the country. First of all it was decided to discuss
the issue of sending military forces to Iraq in the closed door sitting. It surprised
the opposition and some deputies thought it was decided to deprive the opposition
of public speech. Others thought the decision of closed door intended to prevent
the probable secret information from spreading. Anyway the sitting was held behind
closed doors and an enormous army of journalists was waiting for the end of the
sitting. Some of them even declared they were ready to leave for Iraq voluntarily
for ending the sitting soon. We have already written that the "Justice"
bloc and ARF groups will be vote against that decision today. It happened so.
Beside these two groups the remain political powers voted for the issue. The representative
of the Government, the Minister of Defense Serge Sargsian answering to the journalists’
questions said that the Government of Armenia would be ready for sending military
formation since January 5. A military formation consists of 46 volunteers among
them one general commander, one intercommunication officer in the headquarter
of Polish division, one platoon leader commander, three medical officers /cardiologist,
therapeutist, psychiatrist/, 10 combat engineers and 30 drivers. "What
can this decision bring to Armenia?"-was interested one of the journalists.
"I expect the strengthening of our security, the raising of blockade, the
equal attitudes towards the countries of Southern Caucasus by those international
organizations and the countries of the world who are for affirmation of peace
and stability in the world,"-Serge Sargsian said. Answering to the guarantee
of the security of Diaspora the Minister said that it would be more dangerous
if we didn’t take part in Iraqi activities. The medical, communal and local problems
will be solved at the expense of the USA command and the resources of Polish division,
The Armenian Government will pay salary. "We consider those expenses won’t
reach 600 000 dollars. It is provided by the budget of the Ministry of Defense,"-
the Minister of Defense said. NA permitted to send the military formation for
a year but it is considered the subdivision will be recreated. "Whether do
the USA need in assistance of Armenia in the fight against terrorism? "Yes,
if they didn’t need why do we go?"The decision of the parliament accepted
with rather difficulty but according to the minister of Defense it wasn’t a difficult
decision but a tactical trick for a group of deputies who tried to delay time:
"If there wasn’t the 60th anniversary of our Malkhas I wouldn’t regret. I
couldn’t manage to go. There isn’t any other reason as every issue gives the opportunity
to show your opponent that you are well informed."Dashnaktsutiun as it
has promised voted against that issue and it was explained not only as the necessity
of security of Armenian Diaspora in the Arabic world but the importance of Armenian
security, too. The chairman of the NA foreign issues Armen Roustamian told us
yesterday that "Armenia must be a target of terrorism and the second, the
most part of Armenian Diaspora is in the Arabic world." We asked the Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian to explain how the coalition spoke on Dashnktsutiun’s
refusal. The PM said that: "Armenia declares consistently that it is against
the international terrorism and it must approve by action and not only by words.
Every country choose the level of its participation, it isn’t compulsory. A lot
of countries take part in these activities and we aren’t rara avis to say we don’t
want to take part in the humanitarian activities even with 46 persons."Margaret
Yesayan
