YEREVAN (YERKIR)–Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian reported that an Armenian infantry platoon will be leaving for the former Yugoslav region of Kosovo on February 11–to mark Armenia’s first peace-keeping mission abroad. The Armenian platoon will be carrying its mission as a part of the Greek contingent–in accordance with a September 2003 agreement with Greece–ratified by Armenia’s Parliament on December 13. The servicemen will serve for six months–and be replaced with a fresh military group from Armenia.
NATO INQUIRY
Speaking at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday–the defense minister also responded to a reporter’s inquiry about possible ramifications Armenia faces for not attending a NATO conference in Baku–saying that he foresees none. He noted–however–that a NATO representative is currently in Baku to investigate why the Armenian military delegation was not allowed to attend the NATO "Partnership for Peace" planning conference in Baku last month. "I think it is being taken rather seriously," he said–noting that the NATO representative is in Baku "settling these issues."
