Russia is the only country that abstained from voting on the resolution to increase the United Nations (UN) contingent in the CAR. This is stated in a statement published on March 12 on the website of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN.
“Moscow was disappointed with the fact that the authors of the draft decided not to mention in the text the UN Guidelines for the provision of humanitarian assistance in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/182. Providing conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance is an important part of the mandate of MONUSCA, ”the statement reads.
Russia does not accept the course of Western countries aimed at “removing from UN documents references to the UN guidelines on humanitarian assistance.” The permanent mission accused “Western colleagues” of “eroding the severity of the parameters of humanitarian assistance,” which could lead to undermining the principle of respect for national sovereignty.
“This principled position of ours should not come as a surprise to anyone. In December last year, when adopting the Security Council resolution on the extension of the mandate of MONUSCO, the French have already sacrificed consensus because of their own intransigence on this issue, ”the Permanent Mission stressed.
Earlier in January of this year, Moscow withdrew from the Central African Republic (CAR) four Mi-8 helicopters of the Russian Defense Ministry, which were sent to this African country during the elections.
Riots in the Central African Republic have continued to rage since December over ex-President François Bozizet’s candidacy barred from election. The rebels and the opposition groups that joined them raised an uprising and seized several settlements, later some of them, according to the official authorities, were liberated.
In response, the Bangui authorities requested assistance from Moscow, and an additional 300 instructors were sent there. In addition, two companies of UN peacekeepers, as well as two helicopters, will be airlifted from South Sudan to the CAR amid the crisis in the country.