MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Moscow is considering the possibility of expanding Russia's contribution to the peacekeeping activities on the African continent, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We have considered the possibility of increasing Russia's contribution to peacekeeping efforts in Africa, both through exercising our role as a permanent UN Security Council member and through Russian servicemen's direct involvement in peacekeeping operations on the African continent," Lavrov said, following talks with Malian Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russia is also considering the possibility of a more active involvement in the training of African peacekeepers and equipping African peacekeeping operations, he said.
Russia is also interested in training African personnel for both civilian professions and as military servicemen and police, he said.
"We are pursuing relevant programs both on a bilateral basis with the Republic of Mali and in the context of the implementation of the G8 initiatives on strengthening African countries' potential in the peacekeeping area," Lavrov said.