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Lok Sabha
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh told the Lok Sabha today that the Government of India has, in principle, indicated its willingness to strengthen its peacekeeping contingent in the Democratic Republic of Congo In view of the national elections which are scheduled to be held in Congo before the end of 2005.
The Minister further added that considering the present troop strength of the UN Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) as inadequate for the task ahead, the UN Secretary General (UNSG) in his Special Report dated 26 May 2005 had recommended deployment of an additional brigade with MONUC, principally to provide security for elections. Based on UNSG’s recommendation and in anticipation of a Security council authorization for enhancement of troops, the UN Secretariat had enquired if India would be in a position to provide additional peacekeeping troops for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Minister added that 3551 personnel of the India Defence Forces are currently deployed in the UN Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).
The above information was given by the Minister in reply to a question by Sh. K.C. Palanisamy.
AK/SK/JA
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