JERUSALEM, August 29, 2011 (WAFA) – European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, Monday concluded her visit to the region with a visit to Jordan after meeting Palestinian and Israeli officials.
A press release by the EU issued Sunday said that Ashton has concluded her visit to occupied Palestinian territory by laying the ceremonial first stone for construction of security compound (the muqata) in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, together with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
'The Security Compound in Jenin will contribute importantly to the rule of law and security of the people,” she said at the ground breaking ceremony. “As a project it demonstrates the significance of the work going on every day to build the Palestinian state and provide for people.”
Ashton paid tribute to Fayyad for what she described as “his amazing work to build the institutions of a state.”
The EU is co-financing with 9.24 million euro as part of the wider contribution to security sector reform of the Palestinian Authority.
The EU has currently ongoing activities of over 40 million euros in support of improved Palestinian Rule of Law, including infrastructure, capacity building to different judicial institutions, support to Palestinian Civil Police as well as civil society active in the field of human rights and security. The Security Compound in Jenin, due to be built by 2013, will house the General Commander, the Brigadier, the National Guard Service and the Police.
During her two-day visit to the Palestinian Territory, Ashton met President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad as well as Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO Executive Committee. She also met with the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who was travelling in the region.
“I came to the region to continue deliberations with the Palestinians and the Israelis on the Middle East Peace Process. With President Abbas and PM Fayyad I discussed the future of the Palestinian people and my desire to see the peace negotiations restarted and for them to reach a satisfactory conclusion,” said Ashton after her meetings in Ramallah.
Ashton met Sunday with Israel officials before travelling to Jordan.
M.A.
