Armenia: Yerevan to Send 40 Peacekeepers to Afghanistan

Armenia has announced it will send 40 peacekeepers in February 2010 to Afghanistan to participate in the US- and NATO-led stabilization campaign.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that his country of 3 million had an international obligation to make a contribution to global security, the Kavkazsky Uzel news website reported on December 4. The decision to deploy troops is subject to legislative approval.

Armenia's neighbor, Georgia, has pledged to increase its peacekeeping presence in Afghanistan to 800 troops. Tbilisi's increased commitment is seen as a deal-sweetener for Georgia's long-standing bid to join NATO.

Meanwhile, the largest and richest South Caucasus country, Azerbaijan, which maintains a comparatively neutral position toward NATO and Russia, has 90 troops committed to Afghanistan.