ID :
14575
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 16:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14575
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India seeks end to "cycle of violence" in Middle East By Sagar Kulkarni
Tehran, Jul 31 (PTI) - Concerned over the Middle East situation, India Wednesday sought an end to "the cycle of violence" in the region and said the Palestine issue which waspolitical in nature cannot be resolved by force.
"We continue to urge an end to the cycle of violence, the ongoing blockade of Gaza, the expansion of settlements and the construction of the separation wall," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at the ministerial meeting ofthe Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee on Palestine.
He said India believed the Palestine issue was politicalin nature and cannot be resolved by force.
Underlining New Delhi's commitment to the Palestine cause, the Minister said "in keeping with India's support to the Middle East peace process in all its tracks, we have consistently supported the Palestinian people in realising their legitimate aspirations for a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, existing side-by-side in peace with the state of Israel." He said India remains convinced that a just and comprehensive solution can be achieved, based on the principle of "land for peace" and in accordance with the UN SecurityCouncil resolutions.
"The Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap offerways forward," he said.
Mukherjee noted that India has always rendered assistance to the Palestinian people, including in capacity building andnational reconstruction.
India announced assistance equivalent to USD 2.3 million to Palestine following economic sanctions by Israel and theWest in 2006, he said.
At the Paris Donors' Conference for Palestine in December last year, India pledged USD five million for development projects and is committed to provide training to 400 Palestinian officials under the Indian Technical and EconomicCooperation (I.T.E.C.) programme.
India is also building the Mahatma Gandhi Library and Student Activity Centre at the Palestine Technical College inGaza.
At the recent Ministerial Conference on capacity building for Palestine, held in Jakarta earlier this month, India had announced an increase in the allocation of technical training opportunities for Palestine. PTI SKU
"We continue to urge an end to the cycle of violence, the ongoing blockade of Gaza, the expansion of settlements and the construction of the separation wall," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at the ministerial meeting ofthe Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee on Palestine.
He said India believed the Palestine issue was politicalin nature and cannot be resolved by force.
Underlining New Delhi's commitment to the Palestine cause, the Minister said "in keeping with India's support to the Middle East peace process in all its tracks, we have consistently supported the Palestinian people in realising their legitimate aspirations for a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, existing side-by-side in peace with the state of Israel." He said India remains convinced that a just and comprehensive solution can be achieved, based on the principle of "land for peace" and in accordance with the UN SecurityCouncil resolutions.
"The Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap offerways forward," he said.
Mukherjee noted that India has always rendered assistance to the Palestinian people, including in capacity building andnational reconstruction.
India announced assistance equivalent to USD 2.3 million to Palestine following economic sanctions by Israel and theWest in 2006, he said.
At the Paris Donors' Conference for Palestine in December last year, India pledged USD five million for development projects and is committed to provide training to 400 Palestinian officials under the Indian Technical and EconomicCooperation (I.T.E.C.) programme.
India is also building the Mahatma Gandhi Library and Student Activity Centre at the Palestine Technical College inGaza.
At the recent Ministerial Conference on capacity building for Palestine, held in Jakarta earlier this month, India had announced an increase in the allocation of technical training opportunities for Palestine. PTI SKU
