Posted on 12/21/2005 6:07:48 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
MOSCOW, December 21 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the Federation Council upper house of parliament the proposal to use a unit of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sudan, the presidential press service reported on Wednesday.
The letter, specifically, says that the United Nations secretary-general requested Russia’s sending a military unit of its Armed Forces to Sudan to take part in the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sudan. The UN operation is carried out in Sudan in accordance with the resolution of the UN Security Council, which envisages the deployment of an international military contingent in Sudan.
The military force, to participate in the peacekeeping operation, will have the numerical strength of up to 200. Russia offers sending to Sudan four Mi-8MT (MTB) military transport helicopters with authorized weaponry, ammunition, and military and other necessary equipment.
The Russian contingent will function within the United Nations peacekeeping force in the district the UN Security Council named for the operation. Its task will be to give helicopter support to rapid-deployment forces, carry airborne reserves, perform around-the-clock medical and evacuation functions, conduct aerial observation, and carry UN property and personnel to places of deployment and posts. The unit of the Russian Armed Forces in Sudan will be subordinated directly to the commander of the forces of the UN Mission in Sudan.
It is planned to use the Russian military contingent within the United Nations peacekeeping forces for the term defined by the UN Security Council for the operation, that is, till March 24, 2006.
If the UN Security Council prolongs the operation, the participation of the Russian military contingent in the operation will be extended if this remains expedient for Russia’s interests. There will be rotation of the personnel of the Russian military contingent at least twice a year.
The expenditures involved in the participation of the Russian military contingent in the peacekeeping operation will be met in accordance with the procedure established by Russian legislation with the subsequent reimbursement by the United Nations.
Putin also appointed by his decree First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin and Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhailov official representatives of the president during the Federation Council’s debate on the matter.
Interesting. That would give the Russians boots on the ground to influence North Africa. It depends how many men go in.
Awfully nice of Russia to join in the attempts to bring some order to that place, since it was Russia that sold the Sudanese Islamist government large amounts of weaponry that they use to kill civilian populations. Sounds like hypocrisy to me. I read about Russian arms sales in the Economist recently.
Actually, I thought that the Chinese were the ones who sold weapons to the Khartoum regime.
Russian MiGs in Sudan and Yemen - 01/05/2002 - Russia has cut a deal with Sudan to deliver a dozen advanced MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighters to the war-torn country. The deal, announced Christmas Day in Moscow, also includes 14 MiG-29 jets for Yemen.
The transfer of fourth-generation MiG-29 Fulcrums to Sudan has raised concerns inside the Pentagon and is certain to alter any possible U.S. plans for air strikes at known terrorist bases inside the African nation.
Sudan was cited as one of a limited number of nations with direct links to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. The U.S. State Department also listed Sudan as one of a few hostile nations known to be secretly developing biological weapons of mass destruction.
Russia has already supplied a large number of MiG-24 Hind helicopter gunships to Sudan. Libyan and Iraqi pilots working for the Sudanese air force reportedly man the Hind gunships. The helicopter gunships have been used by the Sudanese air force to attack unarmed refugee camps.
Have they supplied any other kinds of arms?
"That would give the Russians boots on the ground to influence North Africa."
UN soldiers can't influence anything.
They might, but I do know the Chinese buy oil from them, and lots of it. I suspect that hard currency is hard for the Sudanese to come by.
The Chinese already have peacekeepers there. I suppose the Russians/CIS want to join in on the fun
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.