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Situation in Mali demands quick moves by world community - RF diplomat

Russia believes an African mission must be deployed in the region as it is envisaged in a resolution of the UN Security Council

ROME, February 6 (Itar-Tass) – The situation in Mali is very difficult and it demands swift and efficient moves of the international community, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told reporters on Tuesday.

He said France considers possible participation of additional international forces in the future. “When Frenchmen began the operation, they had one understanding of the scope of the threat. Now they have made sure that the scope is somewhat more serious than it seemed to them initially,” the Russian diplomat said. “They are building up their force and this meet the tasks which they try to perform there,” Gatilov added.

Russia believes an African mission must be deployed in the region as it is envisaged in a resolution of the UN Security Council. “Will it be necessary to bring this mission under the UN umbrella – this issue needs an additional study. We will be basing on recommendations of the UN secretary general on how this could be done and whether it is expedient at all to do that,” the deputy foreign minister said adding that motives behind the activity of France trying to counter a terrorist threat, are understandable”.

“But we proceed from the fact that the French operation will be temporary,” Gatilov added.

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