MOSCOW. Sept 30 (Interfax) - The easing of the arms embargo imposed on the Central African Republic (CAR) will facilitate the strengthening of its law enforcement agencies and the implementation of the peace agreement between the government and armed groups, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said at a high-level meeting about the CAR on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
"We highly praise the activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, which remains the key instrument of ensuring security in the country. [...] Strict sanctions prevent Central African Republic residents from boosting the capacity of their law enforcement agencies and effectively counter rampart crime and emerging terrorism. [...] We believe a further easing of the arms embargo would facilitate the successful implementation of the political agreement," the Russian Foreign Ministry's website cited Vershinin as saying.
Additionally, Vershinin noted that Russia is providing the CAR, at a request of its government, with non-reimbursable assistance in boosting the combat capacity and professional skills of its armed forces and law enforcement officers, doing it in strict compliance with the requirements of the UN Security Council resolutions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Russia had provided the Central African Republic (CAR) with a second batch of weapons in September
"With the knowledge of the [UN] Security Council [sanctions] committee, two batches of Russian weapons have already been provided to the army of the CAR free of charge. The latest one arrived in this country this month," Lavrov said at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.
The first delivery of Russian light arms was made to the CAR in early 2018 after the UN Security Council Central African Republic Sanctions Committee agreed to permit their delivery by Moscow.