Estonia to withdraw forces from Iraq
|
|
Estonian soldiers who had been preparing for deployment to the war in Iraq can unpack their gear now, after the Estonian government decided on Thursday to reverse its decision to maintain a presence in the country. The move came after Iraq refused to accept the conditions Estonia set concerning the legal position of its soldiers.
Estonia’s Parliament decided already last year to stay in Iraq until the end of this year. However, the decision did not pass as easily in the Iraqi Parliament as it did in Estonia.
In the first vote, the Iraqi Parliament rejected an extension of the Estonian presence in the country.
Only in the second vote did the Parliament approve the continued presence of the Estonians.
However, under the agreement offered by Iraq, Estonian soldiers would have been subject to Iraqi jurisdiction.
Estonia would have wanted the same terms for its soldiers as the US forces, who cannot be brought before Iraqi courts.
An Estonian delegation tried to negotiate an agreement in Iraq this week, but without success. The governments did agree that three Estonian officers would remain in Iraq.
Estonia’s eagerness to be among the last countries to have soldiers in Iraq stems largely from an invitation by the Iraqi government.
Iraq asked the United States, Britain, Australia, El Salvador, Romania, and Estonia to keep their forces in the country after the end of the UN mandate at the end of the year.
Only the USA, Britain, and Australia have reached bilateral agreement with Iraq.
The group of about 35 Estonian infantrymen have been fighting in Iraq alongside their US allies for five and a half years. Two Estonians have been killed and 18 have been injured.
In opinion polls, most Estonians have consistently been against their country’s participation in the war in Iraq. The government has said that it needs to raise its country’s profile as an international player.
The Estonian armed forces have welcomed the experience of working with the US military.
The last Estonian infantrymen were withdrawn from Iraq near Christmas. The next ones were to have been sent in January.
Helsingin Sanomat
