Thursday, May 29, 2008

Ukrainian peacekeepers may be sent to Abkhazia

UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O'Donnell did not rule out participation of Ukrainian peacekeepers in the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). The Georgian Government early called on to change the format of the peacekeeping operation in Abkhazia replacing Russian peacekeepers for representatives of other countries.

O'Donnell said that Ukrainian peacekeepers now strongly compete in various parts of Europe and world. "Ukraine now influences the political and economic situation in various world's countries. To a great extent, this is due to the level of confidence to the Ukrainian peacekeepers among local population of conflict areas, and it is extremely high," O'Donnell stressed.

He particularly noted a high authority of the Ukrainians among people of Kosovo's both ethnic groups and expressed regret regarding tragic death of a Ukrainian peacekeeper in Kosovo's Mitrovica who died March after severe wound.