Russian peacekeeping troops assemble in their camp near the village of Kokhora, bordering the Gali district in the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia, May 4, 2008.
Photo: Reuters
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Russia Ready for Peacekeepers at Their Limit
Russia may increase the number of peacekeepers in the contingent in Abkhazia to the upper limit if Georgia continues to build up troops in the conflict zone. A source at the Defense Ministry told RBC that Russia would not exceed the numbers set in the 1994 agreement on collective forces to support peace, which foresaw a maximum of 3000 peacekeepers.
As the Russian Defense Ministry noted, the peacekeepers have proven the necessity of their presence in the conflict zone. “A clear confirmation of that is the extension of their mandate by the UN Security Council in April 2008,” a spokesman said. The UN document mentions the importance of the peacekeepers in maintaining stability in the conflict zone.
“Rash statements by shortsighted politicians on the need to withdraw the Russian peacekeeping contingent and change the format of the operation will not sway the decisiveness of the peacekeepers and their preparedness to fulfill the task given them,” the Defense Ministry source stated. “Russia will continue to abide by the agreements and not allow them to destabilize the situation in the region.”
There were fewer than 2000 peacekeepers in Abkhazia until recently. In the last week, supplemental units were sent from Russia due to the deteriorating situation in the region. At present, the total number of peacekeepers has reached 2542 persons.
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