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Putin offers aid and arms to Palestine
 Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged aid and military equipment to the Palestinians to reform, boost security and rebuild the shattered economy as he wound up a historic Middle East tour. Putin, the first Kremlin leader to visit Israel and the Palestinian territory, on Friday held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank following a day of negotiations with Israeli officials and a two-day stop in Egypt. "Russia will continue to offer aid to the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms and construct a state," Putin told a news onference. "We support the efforts of President Abbas to reform the security services and fight against terrorism."Despite Israeli complaints that Abbas is not doing enough to crack down on Palestinian fighters, Putin confirmed that Russia would provide military training and equipment to Palestinian security forces. "We will give the Palestinian leadership technical help and deliveries of (military) equipment and training," Putin said, while promising that "aviation technology" and helicopters would come first, along with law enforcement training in Moscow. "If we expect President Abbas to fight effectively against terrorism, we cannot expect him to do this with stones," Putin said. Posted by: Fred 2005-04-30 |
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