MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES IRAQ CONTINGENT

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000744 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB, PM, NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MARR MOPS MD SUBJECT: MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES IRAQ CONTINGENT Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly. ¶1. (U) On July 10 the Moldovan Parliament adopted a decision to send a sixth contingent of troops to Iraq for a period of six months. The contingent will consist of twenty service members - sixteen engineer deminers and four staff officers to work on planning and managing humanitarian operations. This is an increase from the previous contingent of eleven. The mission received 85 votes in favor and only three against. None of those who opposed the contingent spoke commenting on their decision. Before the issue was discussed in the parliament, it had received a unanimous vote in favor in committee. Comment -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Adoption of this bill was long delayed. The fifth contingent had finished up in December, and parliamentary interlocutors first told us the bill would pass immediately after winter recess. There had been talk of some internal opposition, but approval of the contingent passed by a large majority. As Moldovan legislation limits participation to only humanitarian missions, it will be difficult for Moldova to participate in future contingents once the U.N. Security Council mandate expires at the end of the year. PERINA