Withdrawing Ukraine troops from Iraq priority, Yushchenko says

sierratimes.com ^ | Sunday January 9,2005 - 11:02:59 am | AFP

[Destro]

Withdrawing Ukraine troops from Iraq priority, Yushchenko says

Posted: Sunday January 9,2005 - 11:02:59 am

KIEV (AFP) - The winner of Ukraine's presidential vote Viktor Yushchenko said that withdrawing the nation's troops from Iraq will be a priority for him once he takes office, after an accidental blast killed seven Ukrainian soldiers there.

"Viktor Yushchenko sends deep condolences to the families of Ukrainian peacekeepers who died in Iraq Sunday," said a statement released by his press office late Sunday.

"Insofar as withdrawing Ukraine's peacekeeping contingent from Iraq, it remains one of Yushchenko's priorities once he assumes office," the statement said.

The seven Ukrainian troops, along with one Kazakh soldier, died after a bomb they were about to defuse went off accidentally in Iraq's central Wasit region, where Ukrainian and Kazakh troops serve under Polish control, Kiev's defense ministry said.

Another seven Ukrainian and four Kazakh troops were injured as a result of the accident, which occurred at 12:05 pm after a team of Kazakh sappers and their Ukrainian backup had brought back for defusion some 35 aerial bombs that Iraqi police had found stashed near the central military base of As Suwayrah.

After the bombs were unloaded from their transport vehicles one of them exploded for reasons that are still being investigated, the ministry said.

Some 1,600 Ukrainian troops have been deployed since August 2003 in Iraq's Wasit region where US-led coalition forces are under Polish command.

Prior to Sunday's deaths, Ukraine has lost nine of its troops, with another 20 injured.

In the heat of Ukraine's election saga in December, parliament in Kiev approved a resolution that demanded outgoing President Leonid Kuchma withdraw Ukrainian soldiers from Iraq.

[Destro]

Funny how many "conservatives" here supported anti-Iraq and pro EU Yushchenko over outgoing PM Viktor Yanukovych who along with President Kuchma sent Ukrainian troops to Iraq. But old outdated Cold-War emotions and religious hatred of Eastern Orthodox can be easily manipulated.

[sam_paine]

Intrusting

[David1]

I still support Yushchenko even if he wants to bring back Ukrainian troops. What matters is that the will of the people in the presidential election was upheld.

[Destro]

not really - we so called anti-Orange Freepers were posting this would be the case since December. Yushchenko was more the pro-EU than he was pro-American.

[Destro]

It sounds like you support democracy over a candidate and that is fine. As long as we don't have rose colored glasses.

[Hoplite]

It's just a case of freedom and democracy in Ukraine being more important to us than the contribution of their troops to our effort in Iraq.

Not a tough concept for most, Destro, but it's kicking your ass.

[Timedrifter]

Still, with 75% of the Ukrainians supporting withdrawal according to the few polls I have seen, Yushchenko is being smart politically making this his first official act upon becoming president. I just hope it does not come as a surprise to many pro-Yush Freepers that he will be closer to Chirac and Schroeder than President Bush.

[aliquis]

Didn't they say they wanted to join the ranks of EUro-Weasels? Nothing surprising here. Such a commitment may secure them a place in the Coalition of the Fleeing.

[Destro]

The election results were fudged on both sides - and both candidates were backed by competing oligarch factions.

[oolatec]

That's not the point... the fact that the people were able to choose their leader is more important than whether or not that leader keeps the troops in Iraq or not.

[Hoplite]

Yushchenko didn't have to steal the election to win it, Destro, he just needed for the will of the electorate to be respected, rather than the will of those counting the votes deciding the issue.

And that's what America's primary interest in that election was - ensuring that the will of the people was respected.

[anonymoussierra]

"Didn't they say they wanted to join the ranks of EUro-Weasels? Nothing surprising here. Such a commitment may secure them a place in the Coalition of the Fleeing." "Coalition of fleeing" mmmmmm I do not know Thank you

[Destro]

Stalanist dictator? Who? Kuchma? In what warped reality do you live in? You are a perfect expression of the fools that supported Yushchenko not for the sake of democracy but out of a bias not supported by the facts.

[Destro]

Some more chosen than others.

[blackie]

We shall see, won't we.

[gogipper]

But he's farther from Putin!

[eleni121]

Bad news...I suspected as much from Yush. A big mistake.

I guess many Ukrainians are unaware how they are still enamored of strongmen.