Ukraine Will Support the UN Peacekeepers at Cote D'ivoire

KYIV, Ukraine, February 3, 2011 - Ukraine has decided to continue performing its peacekeeping duties
in the West African region. "I am sure that our decision to strengthen
support for the UN peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire meets our national interests
and substantially strengthens Ukraine's position on the international arena,"
said Viktor Yanukovych at yesterday's meeting of the National Security and
Defense Council of Ukraine.

During the meeting the Ukrainian President announced that on
January 19, 2011 the UN Security Council had adopted the Resolution 1967 to
strengthen its peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire. The Ukrainian leader
reminded that in addition to the official note of the UN Secretariat to
Ukraine, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon personally requested that
Ukraine supports the UN peacekeeping force in the region.

"The UN highly appreciates the important contribution of our
country in supporting global peace and security through participation in
peacekeeping initiatives," he said, adding that the UN Secretary-General
noted Ukraine's active role in promoting reduction of global tensions and
creating trust and confidence.

Considering the peculiarities of the region, namely extreme
poverty, numerous local and regional military and ethnic conflicts that can
lead to large-scale humanitarian catastrophes in Africa, Ukraine's
participation in the UN peacekeeping operations will be a stabilizing factor,
he said.

"Ukraine is a peacekeeping country. This is recognized around
the world. We have taken part in more than 20 peacekeeping operations under
the auspices of the UN. So far, Ukraine has taken part in the UN
peacekeeping operations in 11 countries, and there have already been
decisions to redeploy our forces from Liberia to Cote d'Ivoire to support
the UN mission there," Viktor Yanukovych said.

The President mentioned that it will also allow for
maintaining combat readiness of Ukrainian units.

President Yanukovych requested the Council to assess the
concerns of some Ukrainian politicians who said that Ukrainian peacekeepers
would be forced to take part in the armed conflict should the civil war erupt
in Cote d'Ivoire. He said that additional measures would have to be taken
into account in order to improve safety of Ukrainian soldiers.

For more information, please contact Maryna Khorunzha +380-509151565 news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine