Russian servicemen in military police units are present in the Golan Heights to ensure law and order, security and to monitor the cease-fire, but they cannot be included in the Blue Helmets. The Russian Foreign Ministry said this on Wednesday.
"Russian military police are assisting in maintaining law and order, ensuring security and monitoring compliance with the cessation of hostilities in a number of Syrian areas, including the Golan Heights," the diplomatic office said. - "However, Russian peacekeepers are not part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. In accordance with the Syrian-Israeli disengagement agreement of 1974, representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council cannot be included in the UN forces. Military specialists from Nepal, Uruguay, India, Fiji, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Bhutan, Ghana and the Netherlands are currently involved in this force.
The Russian Foreign Ministry drew attention to the fact that in the summer of 2018, with the support and active participation of Russia, an operation was successfully carried out in southwest Syria to eliminate militants from various gangs operating there, including the terrorist group "Islamic State" (ISIS, banned in Russia). This allowed the UN peacekeeping contingent to return to the Golan Heights disengagement area and resume activities under its mandate.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Alexander Ryumin / TASS
Based on materials from TASS