And in the world of safe bets that this ain't gonna happen - so it goes...
Richard
Putin Volunteers Russian Troops for Golan Heights
UPI, 10 June 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday offered Russian replacements for the peacekeeping force Austria wants to withdraw from the Golan Heights.
Austria said it was concerned about the safety of its 370 soldiers because the conflict in Syria has spread to a strategic border crossing. Security conditions have deteriorated in the area around the U.N. Golan Heights headquarters since the Quneitra crossing became the site of a clash between Syrian and rebel forces, CNN reported Friday.
Austria's announcement it will remove its soldiers slashes the number of U.N. troops in the Golan Heights by one-third.
Filipino and Indian peacekeepers will remain and the United Nations may bring in troops from other nations, U.N. spokeswoman Josephine Guerrero said.
Putin told a meeting of top Russian military officers in Moscow the United Nations has asked Russia to make a larger contribution to its peacekeeping efforts and he is ready and willing to replace the Austrians.
"Naturally, that will happen only if the regional powers show interest in our proposal and if the U.N. secretary-general asks us to do that," Putin said.
Syrian tanks crossed into a demilitarized zone Friday and two U.N. peacekeepers were wounded when a mortar shell fell near the U.N. base, Israeli officials said.
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