Troops from the small south Pacific nation of Fiji are to be stationed in Iraq as part of a post war stabilization force.
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They will be deployed in the Polish administered sector of Iraq alongside soldiers from Bulgaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Ukraine and Poland itself. Agreement on the Fiji deployment was reached at talks in Warsaw between Fiji's army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and representatives from the United States, Britain and Poland. Commodore Bainimarama is now having talks with the United States Central Command over funds to cover the estimated US$30 million it will take to send the Fiji troops to Iraq. Fiji has been lobbying strongly for opportunities for its soldiers following the end of 24 years of peacekeeping duties in Southern Lebanon in December last year. |