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545 Fresh S. Korea faces to be stationed
in Iraqi Kurdistan
5.9.2007
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September 5, 2007
SEOUL, Sept. 5,-- Seeing off 545 fresh troops
to be stationed in Iraq, South Korea faces a tough
decision again on whether to extend its military
presence there in support of the United States'
unpopular campaign.
The soldiers will depart for Iraqi Kurdistan on
Thursday in a regular rotation of the 1,200-strong
Zaytun unit camped on the outskirts of Erbil, the
capital of Kurdistan region, 350 km north of
Baghdad. They have a six-month mission but their
stay will be shortened to four months if the
government decides to withdraw the unit at the end
of this year. Zaytun means olive in Arabic.
The government set this month as the deadline for
drawing up a pullout plan, which requires
parliamentary approval.
"No decision has been made yet," Defense Ministry
spokesman Kim Hyung-gi said. "We are preparing to
submit a related report to the National Assembly
this month." |
Zaytun camp, the base of South Korean troops in
Iraqi Kurdistan |
To be considered are the moves of other countries in
the multinational coalition force and the prospects
for South Korean firms to do business in the
oil-rich nation, he added.
As the third-largest force in Iraq after the U.S.
and British troops, Zaytun has played a key role in
reconstructing the Ira's Kurdistan autonomous region
and keeping it relatively stable since 2004. Local
residents are petitioning for Zaytun's continued
presence.
Defense sources here said that the military seems to
be leaning towards a one-year extension of Zaytun's
mandate.
They say Seoul will likely maintain its troops at
1,200 or reduce the number by 300 or 400.
Public opinion is split, however. Those who support
extending the troops' stay cite economic benefits
expected in the oil-rich nation.
The Korea National Oil Corp. signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) on oil development in January.
In July, 13 South Korean construction firms also
signed an MOU with the KRG to build highways and
hydroelectric dams estimated to cost 23 trillion won
(US$ 23.4 billion).
Opponents say such projected economic gains are
overblown, arguing Zaytun has already completed its
mission and it has no reason to stay there further
at a time when many other coalition forces are
rushing to exit Iraq or draw down their military
presence.
Britain has already announced a plan to reduce the
number of its soldiers in Iraq to 3,000 from the
current 5,300 by the end of this year.
U.S. President George W. Bush, in a surprise visit
to Iraq earlier this week, said a reduction in
combat troops was possible.
"If the kind of success we are now seeing continues,
it is possible to maintain the same level of
security with fewer American forces," Bush said.
Washington's stance will become clearer when the
U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus,
provides a far-reaching report on the Iraqi
situation to the Congress next week.
"We can't say the incident will have no impact on
the Zaytun issue at all," a ranking Defense Ministry
official said, asking not to be named.
yonhapnews co.kr
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