Forty-six noncombat military personnel (including 31 drivers, 10 sappers, three doctors, and a liaison officer) left Yerevan on 18 January for Kuwait, where they will undergo two weeks of training before beginning their six-month tour of duty with the international peacekeeping force in Iraq, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL\'s Armenian Service reported. The proposed deployment aroused considerable domestic political opposition. Addressing the contingent at a farewell ceremony at Zvartnots Airport, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian stressed that their mission is \"strictly humanitarian.\" U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans said Armenia\'s participation in the international peacekeeping operations will serve to strengthen the two countries\' already close cooperation in security issues. (RFE/RL)