Polish troops are withdrawing by the end of the year from the United Nations operations in the Golan Heights, Chad and Lebanon. The move is the result of Poland's new defense strategy which shifts the focus on NATO and European Union-led missions. It is also dictated by cuts in the ministry of defence budget.
Danuta Isler reports
Polish troops were stationed in Chad for a year and a half. It was a difficult mission during which they provided the local community with humanitarian assistance, helping build schools and hospitals as well as clean wells. It was also a more challanging mission due to extreme climate conditions. Apart from withdrawing 300 troops from Chad, Poland is also withdrawn 470-strong contingent from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski says the basis for the decision to terminate their presence was the government's strategy of granting priority to NATO and the EU missions.