UN agrees to Indian offer to provide troops for Golan Heights force

With the withdrawal of Canadian support troops from the United Nations force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF), Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Security Council today agreed to an offer from India to provide military personnel for the long-running mission.

Speaking to reporters in New York, a spokesman for Mr. Annan said that troop rotations were a regular occurrence in peacekeeping missions, and the UN promptly seeks replacements for departing contingents.

A letter to the Security Council from Mr. Annan to discuss the replacement of the Canadians said that the addition of the Indian troops would not increase the overall strength of the mission.

UNDOF, which observes the ceasefire between Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, began its operation in May 1974 and last December the Security Council, citing “the very tense situation in the Middle East,” extended its mandate through to 30 June.