21.03.2003 # 11
Parliament Approves Kuchma’s Proposal To Send Ukrainian Chemical Warfare Protection Battalion To Kuwait
The parliament approved President Leonid Kuchma’s proposal to send a
Ukrainian chemical, radiation, and bacteriological warfare protection battalion
to Kuwait. The proposal was adopted by 253 votes while only 226 votes were
required. Kuchma called on the permanent parliamentary majority on Wednesday
to back his proposal to send the battalion to Kuwait. Kuchma also requested
on Tuesday that the parliament approve a decree on sending a Ukrainian
chemical warfare protection battalion to Kuwait.
Kuchma Orders NBC Protection Battalion To Depart For Kuwait
President Leonid Kuchma ordered the Nuclear Bacteriological Chemical
(NBC) warfare protection battalion to depart for Kuwait to protect Kuwaitis
for possible use of weapons of mass destruction. Kuchma made this statement
on Thursday on the air of the First National TV Channel. "As Supreme Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine I have given an order for re-deployment
of this battalion," he said. Moreover, the President reminded that Ukraine
remains against the war. "Ukraine’s position remains flat and unchanged:
we are against the war," Kuchma said. He reminded of the tragedy that Ukraine
survived through the World War II. "Practically every Ukrainian family
lost someone in the last war, the World War II. Who but us would know better:
war should be avoided by any means, any ways," noted the President.
Cabinet Approves Budget Funds For Financing Chemical Warfare Battalion’s Operations In Kuwait
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved state budget funds for financing the transportation and the operations of the Ukrainian chemical, radiation, and bacteriological warfare protection battalion that is being sent to Kuwait. The funding was approved in the March 19 Cabinet of Ministers resolution “On Providing for the Operations of the Ukrainian Military Contingent Being sent to Kuwait to Perform Civil Defense Tasks.” “The financing of the expenditures on creation, transportation, and accommodation of the contingent is to be effected through the Ukrainian state budget funds earmarked for financing participation in peacekeeping operations,” the Cabinet of Ministers resolution stated. The resolution comes into force when the law that approved President Leonid Kuchma’s proposal to send the battalion to Kuwait comes into force.