In December 2004, after long heated discussions and contradictions during closed sessions at the National Assembly, it was finally decided to send the Armenian troops to Iraq. However, yesterday Iraq did not discuss the issue of prolonging the time period in which Armenian troops will stay and the discussions were not heated. Everyone, including Arshak Sadoyan, agreed that the session should be closed and that the deputies must ask the Defense Minister Serj Sargsyan why Armenia has chosen to go towards the north and not the Western World. “There is a decision made to stick with the north,” said A. Sadoyan. “It is really sad to see others playing around with us and force us to go along with their decisions and opinions. How is it that we always tend to mechanically lead one type of politics when making judgments? It is time for us to take risks once in a while. It is time for us to lead our own politics and for the National Assembly to understand once and for all that only the Western world will give us an opportunity when taking certain steps. As for the north, who is concentrated on making us slaves, is dangerous and can only do harm.”
On this occasion, Serj Sargsyan said: “Nobody has the right to tell anyone what to do, much less to the deputy. I am not in favor of the Arshak Sadoyan’s opinion that sending Armenian troops to Iraq is like going towards the North instead of the Western world. That has nothing to do with it. Perhaps that is his mentality, however, we don’t think like that.” In response to the comment made about Russia not sending its troops to Iraq, he said: “Yes, Russia is not sending its troops, but it is taking part. It is very difficult to solve problems in that region without the help of Russia.” As for the differing comments made by the deputies regarding this, Serj Sargsyan said: “They are making those comments because during the past year, the men serving in Iraq proved that sending them there was the right thing to do. We can not jump to conclusions and say that the people worrying back then about the consequences did not have any basis for that. I am not saying that. I am simply saying that this past one year proved that it was the right decision.” According to S. Sargsyan, Armenia’s reputation has gone up by sending the troops to Iraq. In addition, in his words, that is “a good lesson” where each country shows its abilities.