On Thursday, 14 October, the Saeima decided that the service of soldiers from the Latvian National Armed Forces in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan will be extended for another year.

Support for the participation of Latvian troops in the peace-keeping mission in Afghanistan was expressed by 64 MPs of 100 MPs elected to the Saeima; 16 MPs voted against continued participation. 

„The participation of our soldiers in this operation ensures the viability of the collective defence system. We contribute to this system with our share of security so that later we can rely on this system and use it for the protection of our country,” said Mr. Juris Dalbiņš, Chairman of the Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee of the Saeima, at the plenary sitting. 

According to the mandate of the UN Security Council, participation of Latvian military contingent in ISAF operation in Afghanistan is extended until 13 October 2011. Currently, there are 175 Latvian soldiers serving in this NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.

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