Topic: Slovakia to withdraw Iraqi contingent within six months

Team Infidel

Media: AFP
Byline: N/A
Date: 08 September 2006

BRATISLAVA, Sept 8, 2006 (AFP) - Slovakia will withdraw its Iraqi mission of
around 100 military engineers within six months, Foreign Minister Jan Kubis
said on Friday.

"I can confirm that the rotation is truly the last and afterwards will be
followed by an offer and an agreement on the form of Slovakia's
participation in the operation "Iraqi Freedom" as well as the NATO
operation," Kubis said, referring to the recent dispatch of a Slovak
contingent for a six-month mission.

Slovakia could, for example, offer to train Iraqi soldiers, Kubis added.

His comments were made during a joint news conference with his Iraqi
counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari, on a visit to the Slovak capital.

Zebari said he hoped Iraqi forces might be capable of assuring security
throughout the country by the end of the year.

Slovakia first sent a contingent of 105 soldiers to Iraq in July 2003 with
the mission being renewed thereafter. Most of the soldiers have worked on
de-mining operations in the central Iraqi region of Diwaniyah.

The left-wing Smer party of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made
withdrawal of Slovakia's force from Iraq one of its main foreign policy
promises ahead of June legislative elections.

__________________