Hells Angel
Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 88
Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:35 pm |
 Post subject: New Zealand extends role in UNAMI |
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New Zealand extends role in UNAMI
Published: Sept. 30, 2008 at 6:26 PMOrder reprints | Print Story | Email to a Friend | Post a Comment WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The government of New Zealand Tuesday said it would extend its obligation to the U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq for another year to December 2009.
New Zealand Defense Minister Phil Goff said that with the extension of the UNAMI mission to August 2009, the country was obligated to extend the presence of its military liaison officer to the peacekeeping mission there.
Goff noted New Zealand had maintained an officer with UNAMI since 2004, in addition to providing more than $17 million in humanitarian relief, the New Zealand government said in a statement Tuesday.
"More recent assistance has focused on humanitarian relief with contributions to the U.N. High Commission for Refugees for assistance to Iraqi refugees and to the International Committee of the Red Cross," he said.
The defense minister highlighted the recent improvements in the security situation in Iraq and credited the role played by Iraqi leaders in reining in Shiite militias and taking on al-Qaida and religious extremists in the country.
"Security in Iraq is improving, but remains fragile," he said.
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