The Ukrainian peacekeepers in Ivory Coast will continue to fulfill their mission regardless of the worsening of the situation in this country, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Mykhailo Yezhel has told Interfax-Ukraine.
"Ukraine will participate in all peacekeeping operations. If you believe that Ukraine is a country that just comes to the point where it is dangerous and then says ‘stop’, then we are not such [a people]. We, together with everyone else, share all of the risks and the problems that occur on the way to carrying out difficult tasks in North Africa, the Ivory Coast and other places," the minister said.
He added that Ukrainian helicopter pilots would be deployed in this country until June 30 of the current year, and the president, the National Security and Defense Council and the Ukrainian parliament would decide on the possible further prolongation of the mission.
As reported, a civil confrontation is unfolding on the territory of Ivory Coast. In November 2010, the Ukrainian governments decided to send Ukrainian peacekeepers to this country to provide support for UN operations. The Ukrainian detachment includes 25 servicemen and two MI-8MT helicopters.
