Romania's parliament voted Tuesday to maintain troops in Iraq in 2009, upon President Traian Basescu's request, as the future of non-US forces in the country remained uncertain.
"The kind of operations that will be conducted by the Romanian forces, as well as their status, will be determined in conjunction with the Iraqi government," Basescu said in his proposal to parliament, which approved it by a large majority, with 42 abstentions and no opposing votes.
The move came after the Iraqi parliament delayed Monday a crucial vote to determine the future of non-US foreign troops, whose UN mandate expires on December 31.
A delegation of Romanian experts was expected to meet with Iraqi authorities in Baghdad in the coming weeks to discuss the future of the Romanian troops.
Romania has 498 troops in Iraq, mostly deployed in the Talil region and carrying out safeguard and security missions.
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