Media Advisory
Embassy of Armenia
Washington, DC

August 18, 2003

· Q. What are Armenia’s contributions to the Operation Iraqi Freedom and post-war operations in Iraq?

· A. The Republic of Armenia has maintained permanent liaison with the United States Government before, during, and after Operation Iraqi Freedom to provide all necessary and possible support to the U.S. armed forces.

In addition to restoration of stability and peace in the region and WMD non-proliferation, Armenia’s interests in Iraq include the welfare and security of the Armenian community in that country, estimated at 30,000 people (mostly descendants of Armenian survivors of the 1915 Genocide in the Ottoman Empire) who primarily reside in Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul. All necessary information was communicated to the U.S. forces in the region to ensure the safety of the Armenian population in Iraq.

As a friend and ally of the United States, Armenia has pledged assistance to post-war operations underway in Iraq. Armenia has offered to assign a number of military medical officers and a demining platoon to coalition forces in Iraq. The number of Armenian servicepersons assigned to the post-war operations in Iraq is commensurate with the Armenian Armed Forces’ nascent peacekeeping capacity. Additionally, an Armenian liaison officer has been assigned to the Centcom HQ in Tampa, FL to supplement the current channels of military-to-military communications.