Russian women to go on UN peacekeeping missions

The Russian Interior Ministry is going to send female personnel on peacekeeping missions conducted by the United Nations, Vladimir Kikot, chief of the ministry's Personnel Support Department, told the media on Wednesday.

According to Kikot, the first three female officers have been selected and are receiving relevant training.

In the near future, female peacekeepers will join Russian police personnel operating under the aegis of the United Nations.

Vladimir Kikot spoke of the requirements to those volunteering for UN peacekeeping duty.

A potential peacekeeper must be in the 25-50-year-old bracket, have at least a five-year irreproachable service record with the Interior Ministry, drive a car professionally, shoot a sidearm and be PC-literate.

The aspirant must be fit physically and prepared to serve in hot climate. High on the requirement list is the fluency in English (spoken in all UN missions) and/or French for service in Congo and Haiti.

The Interior Ministry's Personnel Support Department selects aspirants from across the country, Kikot added.

Volunteers are sent to the Peacekeeper Training Center of the Interior Ministry Advanced Training Institute for a five-week training course.

All classes are held in English and French. The course is crowned by an exam conducted by the UN's international examining board.

The English or French test is first, followed by the driving and sidearm proficiency tests.