PHANINDRA DAHAL

KATHMANDU, MAY 09 Nepal Army is open to the United Nations proposal for deployment of Nepali peacekeepers in Iraq. Army Headquarters said the mobilisation of Nepali troops in the war-torn nation will start once the Cabinet approves the proposal. Army officials were not sure when it would approve the proposal but said it will be taken up by the government very soon. UN wants Nepali soldiers deployment to protect UN buildings and staff at the Iraq-based UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in the Green

Zone.

We are positive about the proposal, said Nepal Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri. The process for getting the governments approval is underway. Deployment will start after the Cabinet approval. The request for deploying 223 Nepal Army soldiers in Baghdad was made by UNAMI to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs early this year. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd had telephoned PM Jhala Nath Khanal on March 10 requesting the Nepali troops. Australia is against the deployment of Fijian Army as Blue Helmets, following the 2006 coup initiated by Fijian military leader Frank Bainimarama. The contingent from Fiji of 221 soldiers is deployed in Iraq since December 2004. Australia is now the lead country advocating for Nepal Armys presence instead in Iraq. Due to ambiguity over content of the proposal floated in March, Nepali officials had put two conditions for NA deployment: Soldiers should be under the chain of command of UN and on static duty. Static duty means NA soldiers will be stationed in one place instead of moving around in mobile units which could expose them to greater threat. The issue of deployment in Iraq got a positive spin after Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gen Chhatra Man Singh Gurung reported to Defence Minister Bishnu Poudel and Defence Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire that the UNs proposal was feasible. The UN Department of Political Affairs and Department of Peace Keeping Operations had taken up the issue when Gen. Gurung visited the UN Headquarters in March. Upon his return, UN sent a letter explaining rules of engagement for Nepali soldiers in Iraq to the Defence Ministry. The government has alerted Nepals Permanent Mission in New York and sought its suggestion on the feasibility aspect. UN has said Nepali soldiers would be responsible for both static and mobile duties. We are evaluating the risk factors before forwarding the proposal to Cabinet, said a government source. ..