Servicemen of the first contingent detached to take part in the post-conflict operation in Iraq were awarded in a ceremony staged by the Ministry of Defense on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the first mission – September 2003 – March 2004, IPN reports.
Minister Vitalie Marinuta said the first contingent consisted of 42 servicemen – 36 infantry soldiers, five sappers, and one general staff officer. In 2003-2008, Moldova had deployed six contingents to Iraq, while the Moldovan combat engineers demined over 400,000 explosive devices of different calibers.
Commander of the first contingent of military men in Iraq, Colonel Anatolie Nosatyi said that by taking part in the peacekeeping operations in Iraq, Moldova showed to the international community that its army is able to take part in international operations and to contribute to maintaining peace in the world. “We raised Moldova’s flag in Iraq alongside those of 62 countries of the Multinational Coalition,” he stated.
U.S. Ambassador in Chisinau William Moser said that Moldova can be proud of the peacekeeping operations it performed. “The operation in Iraq showed there are no minor roles in peacekeeping missions. Any task must be carried out,” he underlined.
Moldova took part in the post-conflict operation in Iraq from 2003 until 2008 with contingents that consisted of 106 servicemen.
