Russia is providing four helicopters to the European Union's peacekeeping mission in Chad, despite simmering tension over the situation in Georgia, EU defense officials and diplomats confirmed Monday, DPA reported. The four Russian transport helicopters are expected to begin operations in November and will provide more "flexibility" to the bloc's EUFOR mission, its operational commander, Lieutenant General Patrick Nash, said at a press conference in Brussels. "We want to be active, we want to be in places where we can react, and we want to have the element of surprise: helicopters in a country the size of Chad give you that extra dimension. And the more helicopters I have, the more flexibility the force commander has," Nash said. At the same time, Nash stressed that EUFOR was not dependent on the Russian contribution, noting that it represented less than "one third" of the mission's current helicopter capabilities. Consisting of 3,700 soldiers, EUFOR is the EU's largest ever military mission. Its main objectives are to protect civilians, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and help protect UN personnel, equipment and facilities. Its one-year mandate is due to expire in March 2009, when it is to be replaced by a broader multinational force.
