Italy proposes sending Armenian peacekeepers to Lebanon

Italy has made an official proposal to Armenia to include an Armenian military contingent in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

According to the press service of Armenian Defense Ministry, Italy, which has a UNIFIL (United National Interim Force in Lebanon) contingent, has proposed that Armenian peacekeepers should perform the function of ensuring the security of the mission’s headquarters.

It is planned to send two Armenian peacekeeping platoons to Lebanon in 2013.

Armenia is currently conducting negotiations with the UN and Italy’s Defense Ministry. Armenian Defense Ministry’s working group led by Chief of the country’s armed forces Yuri Khachaturov will pay a visit to Rome next week.

Besides, Armenia received the United Nations’ proposal to participate in the peacekeeping mission in Mali. “At the current stage it was decided to conduct negotiations only on sending a group of Armenian military observers,” the ministry said.