Czechs offer to send peacekeepers to Golan
President Milos Zeman says deployment could ‘help reduce risk of conflict’s escalation’
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PRAGUE — Czech President Milos Zeman proposed deploying Czech troops as UN peacekeepers in the disputed Golan Heights Tuesday.
The force was established in 1974 to monitor the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan.
Some countries have recently withdrawn their contingents from the UN mission amid escalating hostilities after fighting from the Syrian civil war threatened their positions.
Zeman says the deployment would at least “help reduce the risk of this conflict’s escalation” and increase his country’s “prestige.”
He made his proposal Tuesday during an annual meeting with Czech ambassadors and diplomats.
Such a Czech deployment would have to be approved by Parliament, and the country is facing early elections in late October.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
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