Minister: Slovenian Soldiers Expected in Lebanon by Late October
Defence Minister Karl Erjavec said that twelve members of the Slovenian Armed Forces will leave for Lebanon to join the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) in the end of October or in early November.
While stressing that the soldiers' departure is based on the assessment of the Slovenian Army Headquarters on the situation on the ground, Erjavec said that only a major event could stop it from taking place.
The minister pointed out that the UN mission is in fact an EU mission and that Slovenia's participation in it is also important from the viewpoint of the country's 2008 stint as EU chair.
"I don't believe that the issue of Lebanon will be solved by 2008...As the future EU president we should take part in the mission from the beginning, as this will be on of the issues that we will face during our stint," he added.
In line with the cabinet's decision, Slovenia will take part in the mission with 12 soldiers, however, Erjavec did not want to disclose with which country Slovenia will be partners with. According to him, Slovenia wants to send in a team of signal officers.
The cabinet adopted the decision on 7 September, with Erjavec explaining then that Slovenia will cooperate with a partner state.
The cabinet also endorsed a proposal to donate SIT 17m (EUR 71,000) to the Ljubljana-based International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF). The funds will be spent on a demining adviser, who is to work for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) for a period of six months.
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