Translated material
To Darfur for prestige
Russia is ready to send peacekeepers to Sudan
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that he does not rule out the possibility of Russian peacekeepers participating in a UN-led settlement in Sudan's western Darfur province. “I think that this is quite realistic, because today there is not a single peacekeeping operation in Africa where we do not participate in one form or another,” said the head of Russian diplomacy. According to him, in addition to the military, Russian companies that have won the relevant UN tenders for the transportation of goods can take part in the peacekeeping operation: “So I see no obstacles to our participation in the Sudanese operation. It will only be necessary to determine the optimal parameters for such participation after its mandate is approved.”In February 2003, rebels in Darfur rebelled against the central government, declaring that it did not take into account the interests of the local population. There is evidence that 200 thousand people died during the conflict, more than a million became refugees. The Sudanese authorities cite lower numbers - about 10 thousand dead.
On August 31, 2006, the Security Council adopted resolution 1706, which provides for the strengthening of the African Union peacekeeping contingent in Sudan with UN peacekeepers. Khartoum initially opposed the resolution, but in December 2006 agreed to the idea. And now it turns out that Russian peacekeepers may also participate in the operation with UN forces.
True, there are already Russian peacekeepers in Sudan, but they are not dealing with Darfur. As part of the UN mission, they are monitoring the implementation of a peace agreement to resolve another agreement - between the center and the rebellious south of the country. The first 200 Russian peacekeepers and a helicopter flight were sent to Sudan in May 2006 based on the UN Security Council resolution of March 4, 2005.
In Africa, Russian peacekeepers participated in peacekeeping operations in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Western Sahara, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Eritrea. “Our helicopter pilots performed well in Sierra Leone. Russian paratroopers, armored vehicles, engineering units, units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and civilian employees participated in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa,” Viktor Tarusin, president of the charitable foundation for veterans of UN peacekeeping missions “Peacemaker,” told Vremya Novostey.
Retired Colonel General Eduard Vorobyov, who commanded the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Transnistria in 1992, told VN that he reacted positively to the news of the possible dispatch of Russian peacekeepers to Darfur: “Russia’s participation in peacekeeping operations allows it to increase international prestige, improve professional level of military personnel participating in peacekeeping operations.”
Sudan and Russia cooperate closely in the military-technical field. The largest contract for the purchase of weapons was implemented in 2004. Sudan bought from Russia 12 MiG-29 fighters, several Mi-24 combat helicopters, dozens of armored vehicles, small arms and ammunition. According to Eduard Vorobyov, Russia also has its interests in the south of Sudan. Five Russian oil companies are already operating there.