The UN Security Council will consider lifting or making changes to the arms embargo imposed on the Central African Republic this summer, Russian Ambassador to CAR Alexander Bikantov told Sputnik.
"The advisability of lifting or making adjustments to the embargo regime will be submitted for consideration to the UN Security Council this summer," Bikantov said.
In the meantime, leading UN experts are meeting in Bangui with CAR officials, including the country's foreign minister, as well as relevant organizations and ambassadors, he added. As a rule, experts limit themselves to gathering information and assessments and only then prepare their proposals for the UN, the Russian ambassador said.
"It is difficult to assess the prospects for lifting or further easing of the embargo today as some UNSC members tend to overly politicize the topic," Bikantov also said.
At the same time, the ambassador reiterated Russia's stance on the embargo mechanism, describing it as a "harmful anachronism."
"It limits the legitimate capabilities of CAR military in building its armed forces and protecting its national sovereignty. Only illegal armed groups opposing CAR authorities unfairly benefit from maintaining the embargo," the Russian diplomat said.
Such armed groups continue to receive smuggled weapons, and the resulting security tensions have a negative impact on the country's economic development and foreign investments, Bikantov added.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in CAR said that Bikantov had received the UN delegation that is monitoring the implementation of the embargo in the country.
"The parties discussed in detail the security situation in CAR, progress in the implementation of the Disarmament Program ... reintegration of former militants as well as some issues regarding the control over the non-proliferation of light weapons in the country," the embassy wrote on Telegram.
In addition to Russia, the countries seeking the lifting of the CAR arms embargo include China, Gabon, Ghana and Kenya.