RAMALLAH, October 27, 2009 (WAFA)- The Dutch and Norwegian Governments, through EUPOL COPPS, today handed over 40 Mitsubishi pick-up trucks to the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) .

An EUPOL COPPS  press release said the vehicles will be distributed to all districts of the West Bank and, in particular, PCP stations situated in Areas ‘B’.

The handover ceremony took place at the Guards and Protection Unit of the PCP in At Tireh, Ramallah, and was presided over by Deputy Chief of PCP , Brigadier General Jihad Al Museimi; Chargé d'Affairs of the Representative Office of the Netherlands to the Palestinian Authority, Mr Harry Putker; Counsellor of the Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian Authority, Mr Espen Evjenth Lindbaek, and EUPOL COPPS Staff and Liason Officer, Mr John Lansley.

Brigadier General Al Museimi affirmed that: “The PCP appreciates very much the cooperation of these countries in establishing a Palestinian sovereign state (…) Every Palestinian citizen feels the improvement of the security situation in the West Bank”.

In this context, Mr Putker underlined that: “Strengthening the Rule of Law and enhancing the stability and security is essential in preparing for statehood”.

He added that with this project the Netherlands “wanted to ensure that the police receive the training and the equipment needed to enable them to provide stability and security for all”.

Mr Evjenth Lindbaek stated that “the Norwegian support to the PCP aims at increasing the safety and security of the Palestinian population and at serving the domestic agenda of the Palestinian Authority in re enforcing the Rule of Law”.

Norway, he mentioned, “has participated in the effort to building the capacity of the PCP through a Trust Fund together with the Netherlands ”.