ID :
207959
Mon, 09/19/2011 - 08:48
Auther :

S. Korea seeks to extend peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Lebanon

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking to win approval from the nation's parliament to extend by one year the missions of its troops dispatched to Haiti and Lebanon for U.N. peacekeeping operations, the foreign ministry said Monday.
About 240 South Korean troops have been stationed in Haiti since early last year to help the Caribbean state cope with the aftermath of its devastating earthquake. In Lebanon, about 350 troops have been stationed since 2007 as part of the U.N. interim forces' efforts to oversee a cease-fire and set up a buffer zone between Lebanon and Israel.
Both missions are set to expire at the end of this year.
In a report submitted to the National Assembly, the ministry said it is pushing for a plan to extend the deployments of its troops in Haiti and Lebanon "as part of efforts to expand its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations."
A total of 635 South Korean troops are serving as U.N. peacekeepers in eight global missions, including Pakistan, Nepal and East Timor, the ministry said.

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