Russia could send peacekeepers to Darfur -FM

Jan 27, 2007 (MOSCOW) — Russia could send peacekeeping troops to the Darfur region in Sudan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told news agencies on Saturday.

“I think that it is definitely possible because today there is not a single peacekeeping situation in Africa where we are involved (as part of military contingents),” he said. “As a rule, it’s police, civilian and administrative personnel.”

Lavrov, who was speaking on his return from a visit to India with President Vladimir Putin, said Moscow was considering whether the United Nations would consent to Russia’s sending helicopter units on a range of other operations.

There was no reason why Russia shouldn’t be involved in Darfur, he said.

“It will just be necessary to define the optimal parameters for our participation once the mandate for it (the operation) is confirmed.”

The top diplomat for the African Union, which has a struggling peacekeeping force in Darfur, said on Friday details of a U.N. support package had been finalized and included “substantial air assets”, as well as significant military and logistical peacekeeping help.

(Reuters)