Tweet
THINK THE AFGHANISTAN WAR IS OVER? ARMENIA DOESN'T
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63466
May 11 2011
NY
With Osama bin Laden dead, Washington may be busy debating an
Afghanistan pullout, but some Armenian top-brass appear ready to
stick around for awhile.
On May 10, Armenia moved to triple its Afghan contingent to 130
personnel -- a figure that will make the tiny South Caucasus country
the second-largest South Caucasus troop contributor to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization's Afghan campaign. It follows after NATO
groupie Georgia, which tips the scales at 924 personnel.
By comparison, Azerbaijan, the largest and the richest of the Caucasus
lot, will now have the smallest number of forces (94) on the ground
in Afghanistan.
Competition between the three countries traditionally runs deep;
no less so, it would appear, in Afghanistan.
"Armenia should not be in the last place in this regard in the
South Caucasus," argued Defense Minister Seiran Oganian in his May 10
address to Armenia's National Assembly. Some Armenian lawmakers agreed,
saying that beefing up Armenia's troop presence in Afghanistan will
improve the country's international image.
Armenian troops currently help provide security for an airport in
the northern city of Kunduz. Oganian said that Armenia may increase
its military presence in Afghanistan to 260 personnel at the next
troop rotation.
From: Baghdasarian
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63466
May 11 2011
NY
With Osama bin Laden dead, Washington may be busy debating an
Afghanistan pullout, but some Armenian top-brass appear ready to
stick around for awhile.
On May 10, Armenia moved to triple its Afghan contingent to 130
personnel -- a figure that will make the tiny South Caucasus country
the second-largest South Caucasus troop contributor to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization's Afghan campaign. It follows after NATO
groupie Georgia, which tips the scales at 924 personnel.
By comparison, Azerbaijan, the largest and the richest of the Caucasus
lot, will now have the smallest number of forces (94) on the ground
in Afghanistan.
Competition between the three countries traditionally runs deep;
no less so, it would appear, in Afghanistan.
"Armenia should not be in the last place in this regard in the
South Caucasus," argued Defense Minister Seiran Oganian in his May 10
address to Armenia's National Assembly. Some Armenian lawmakers agreed,
saying that beefing up Armenia's troop presence in Afghanistan will
improve the country's international image.
Armenian troops currently help provide security for an airport in
the northern city of Kunduz. Oganian said that Armenia may increase
its military presence in Afghanistan to 260 personnel at the next
troop rotation.
From: Baghdasarian