Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SKOPJE938
2007-11-30 16:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: PARLIAMENT APPROVES DOUBLING OF TROOPS
how-toVZCZCXRO7014 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSQ #0938 3341615 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301615Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6761 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0110 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000938
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND NEA/I (DAS BUTLER),
OSD FOR DASD CAGAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS MASS MK IZ
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: PARLIAMENT APPROVES DOUBLING OF TROOPS
FOR IRAQ
(SBU) In a unanimous vote on November 30, the Macedonian
Parliament approved the government's proposal to double
Macedonia's troop contributions in Iraq. The initiative
received 70 MP votes in favor, and none against. The Deputy
Minister of Defense told MPs before the vote that the
additional 36 troops could deploy to Iraq by as early as
mid-December. The troops will participate in combat patrols
and other "outside the wire" activities with U.S. forces in
Taji. COMMENT: Foreshadowing the outcome of the vote, a
governing coalition MP recently told us that Macedonia was
committed to its own "surge" in Iraq; even as other countries
were drawing down their forces, Macedonia would remain
steadfast in supporting the U.S. in the field. End comment.
MILOVANOVIC