Putin pledges aid for Palestinian forces

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (R) welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) during the official welcome ceremony in Ramallah Friday. Putin yesterday became the first Russian leader to visit Palestinian territory where he offered aid for chairman Mahmud Abbas's threadbare security forces. PHOTO: AFP

Putin, the first Kremlin leader to visit Palestinian territory and Israel, 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.

"We support the efforts of President Abbas to reform the security services and fight against terrorism," Putin told a news conference.

"Russia will continue to offer aid to the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms and construct a state."

Despite Israeli complaints that Abbas is not doing enough to crack down on militant groups, 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, promising "aviation technology" and helicopters would come first.

Alluding to Israeli fears, Putin said the Israelis understood that "today's Palestinian leadership should have the necessary resources."

Israel has also rebuffed a US proposal to arm Palestinian police officers in the West Bank to help put an end to the rampant lawlessness in the territory, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

"If we expect President Abbas to fight effectively against terrorism, we cannot expect him to do this with stones," Putin said.

In return, Abbas welcomed Putin's offer to host a conference on the Middle East in Moscow in a bid to push forward the stagnant peace process. "The conditions are ripe," he said.

But Putin's offer to host such an event elicited only cool responses from the United States and Israel.

Abbas reiterated the Palesti-nians' commitment to the internationally drafted peace roadmap and said his government was willing to coordinate with Israel over this summer's pullout of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip.

"We are committed to the implementation of a just peace with our Israeli neighbours and do not want to miss the opportunity which has presented itself."

Russia, along with the European Union, the United Nations and the United States, is a sponsor of the roadmap, a phased blueprint which aims for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

Putin also warned of the dangers of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East while defending Moscow's nuclear cooperation with Iran.

"We are not against Iran using atomic technology for peaceful purposes and we think that the Iranian people have the right to modern technology in all fields."

Earlier, Putin laid a wreath at the tomb of veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died last November, after being greeted by a Palestinian guard of honour and being embraced by Abbas.

A few dozen Russian women looked on from outside the gates of the Palestinian leadership compound, welcoming Putin's arrival.

Abbas, who once lived and studied in Russia, used his first overseas trip after being elected Arafat's successor last January to visit Russia, which he said was testament to Russia's key role in the Middle East.