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Korean authorities are looking into a request from the U.S. government to let the development agency USAID move its office in northern Iraq into the base of Korea¡¯s Zaytun Unit stationed there.
A Defense Ministry source said Thursday the official request from the U.S. came by way of the Foreign Ministry in November, asking Korea to let USAID move into the base in Kurdish-majority Irbil, which is relatively calm compared to the rest of the war-torn country. The Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which oversees the Zaytun base, feels the USAID office would be no hindrance to base operations and is likely to permit it to move in around mid-February, the source said.
However, there are concerns that if the U.S. organization moves into the base, the Zaytun Unit could become a more attractive target for insurgents. Some 30 USAID staff are currently staying in 18 container buildings in a village near the base, and these would simply be moved into the compound if Korea agrees. ¡°If the USAID office moves into the compound of the Zaytun unit, the U.S. will pay all the expenses of the operation,¡± a military source said. ¡°We will not be charged with guarding staff of the office.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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