UN asks Russia for more peacekeepers

New York, May 23:

has been asked to increase the level of staff it commits to

peacekeeping missions around the world, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said.

"Our peacekeepers are in great demand. We have been asked to increase the number of peacekeepers involved in UN peacekeeping operations," Kolokoltsev said after meeting UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.

Kolokoltsev said that about 80 Russian police officers are currently serving with eight UN peacekeeping operations.

He said his meeting with the UN official covered a wide range of issues, such as strengthening cooperation on law enforcement, information security and combating international drugs trafficking.

He also said that Russia's interior ministry was willing to share its "unique" experience with UN member states by helping train peacekeepers.

Last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the international centre in Domodedovo outside Moscow, where peacekeepers are trained. Some 80 peacekeeping specialists undergo training there each year.

IANS

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