The UN might soon get more authority for governing Iraq. American diplomats announce that this will in part concern the formation of multinational peacekeeping forces. However, according to Reuters, Washington wishes to retain the right to command these forces.
The uneasy situation in Iraq does not prevent Ukrainian peacekeepers from carrying out their duties. Obviously, the reason is not only in the fact that inhabitants of the part of Iraq where Ukrainians are garrisoned are believed to be less aggressive toward foreigners but also in our men’s professionalism. Ukraine’s Ministry for Defense reports on the progress in the operations daily. In part, the week before last the Ukrainian military together with American peacekeepers arrested two locals packing AK-47 submachine guns (Kalashnikov rifles). Later another two armed persons were arrested who opened fire. Luckily, nobody was hurt. The arrested were delivered to US military police. Later a Ukrainian patrol helped an Iraqi policemen arrest nine illegal migrants at the Iran- Iraqi border. In addition, while setting up camp Ukrainian combat engineers discovered 48 explosives.
According to the Ministry of Defense, our peacekeepers’ health is satisfactory. So far they live in tents but will move indoors as soon as the premises are ready. These barracks obviously will not look like a five-stars hotel; however, Ukrainians are trying to improvise comfortable conditions. Thus, peacekeepers of the Fifth Independent Mechanized Brigade have be able to watch over 200 television channels by satellite. Today experts are working on tuning the antenna to the Sirius satellite, which broadcasts Ukrainian channels. Ukrainians have clearly established quite good relations with the locals. On Independence Day the governor of Wasit province visited the Ukrainian peacekeepers with his greetings. In his speech he said, in part, “I believe that in time Iraq will also become an independent state like Ukraine.”
