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April 30, 2002 Romania to send additional troops to Afghanistan Associated Press -Romania’s contribution is expected to cost about $26 million, a big financial burden for a country where the average monthly wage is just $110. BUCHAREST, Romania — Hoping to show Romania is ready for NATO membership, parliament decided Tuesday to send hundreds of troops to Afghanistan in support of the U.S.-led military operation there. Approving a request by President Ion Iliescu to participate in the international campaign, parliament voted 385 to 6 to send 405 infantry soldiers and a unit of 70 officers specialized in nuclear, chemical and biological defense. Romania’s contribution is expected to cost about $26 million, a big financial burden for a country where the average monthly wage is just $110. Earlier this year, Romania sent 285 military police and 15 physicians to Afghanistan as part of an international peacekeeping mission. Proposing the Romanian involvement, Defense Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu told lawmakers that Romania would lose credibility if it shied away from dangerous missions. “Romania needs to show it is a supplier of security,” said Pascu. The government hopes to receive an invitation in November to join NATO at a summit in Prague and is eager to demonstrate that it is a serious candidate for alliance membership. Romania has been praised by Western nations, particularly the United States, for its stance against terrorism in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Other former Warsaw Pact member countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland — joined NATO in 1999. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
