Palestine asks for military equipment

The Palestinian Authority wants Turkey to meet some of the equipment needs of its security forces and expand its peace-monitoring role along the troubled Palestinian borders with Israel as part of Turkish efforts to play an enhanced role in Middle East peace efforts, said visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath.

Shaath was accompanying newly elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas during his two-day talks in Ankara this week. He said a new Turkish diplomat with ambassadorial rank would be assigned to Jerusalem to take over the top post in the Turkish Consulate General for Palestine, but officials at the Foreign Ministry and the Presidency were not available for comment on the issue.

“We are delighted with the fact that Turkey chose to upgrade the consul general of Turkey in Jerusalem to an ambassadorial level,” Shaath told the Turkish Daily News after first day of talks with top Turkish leaders.

Turkey decided to raise the level of its diplomatic representation by appointing a consul general with ambassadorial rank last year to bolster cooperation with Palestinians.

Abbas and Shaath held talks with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and officials from the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). They also met with Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç before departing from Ankara yesterday.

Turkish assistance for border security:

The Palestinian minister pointed out that Turkey has the ability to assist the Palestinians in many fields, ranging from infrastructure and business investments to the training of the Palestinian police force. Among them was also meeting the military equipment needs of Palestinian security forces together with Russia and European countries, he said.

“I think … Turkey can also provide some equipment. We asked the Russians and Europe for further support,” the minister said but declined to give further details when asked about the type of military equipment Turkey might provide.

“It has not yet been specified. … We would like some Turkish security experts to come to Palestine and look at our needs.”

According to Shaath, Palestinian policemen have already been receiving training in Turkey. “Each year a group comes to Turkey to attend the police academy. Two groups have already graduated and the third group is in the training process. Turkey is willing to accept more,” he explained, adding that Ankara promised to provide 25,000 new police uniforms.

Shaath appeared keen on an increased Turkish role in a peace-monitoring mission in the troubled zones. “Turkey already has a small contingency in Hebron, and it could expand that contingency if approved by the Israelis and the international community. We approve of it 100 percent,” he said.

“In accordance with the road map there is room for monitoring, and when we come to the implementation of such a commitment we will also ask Turkey,” he added, referring to possible Turkish peace monitors in the Gaza Strip.