Azerbaijan to double peacekeepers in Afghanistan
Azerbaijan has passed a decision to more than double its
peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan, Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov has said.
"The number of our servicemen will reach 100. The government has already appealed to parliament to acquire consent for the increase. The legislature is expected to consider the appeal soon," he told journalists Thursday.
Azimov explained the measure by the recent pullout of Azerbaijani peacekeeping forces from Kosovo.
The deputy minister said NATO was indignant about the withdrawal of Azerbaijan’s forces from the Serbian province, claiming Baku’s step was aimed at jeopardizing the alliance’s mission there.
"We replied that being there just isn’t in line with our political and legal positions. Instead, we will increase our contingent in Afghanistan to 100," Azimov said.
Azerbaijani peacekeepers have been involved in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan since 2002. Late in 2007, the country’s parliament approved doubling their number to 44.*
"The number of our servicemen will reach 100. The government has already appealed to parliament to acquire consent for the increase. The legislature is expected to consider the appeal soon," he told journalists Thursday.
Azimov explained the measure by the recent pullout of Azerbaijani peacekeeping forces from Kosovo.
The deputy minister said NATO was indignant about the withdrawal of Azerbaijan’s forces from the Serbian province, claiming Baku’s step was aimed at jeopardizing the alliance’s mission there.
"We replied that being there just isn’t in line with our political and legal positions. Instead, we will increase our contingent in Afghanistan to 100," Azimov said.
Azerbaijani peacekeepers have been involved in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan since 2002. Late in 2007, the country’s parliament approved doubling their number to 44.*
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