Sunday, August 28 2005 11:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ramallah: The Palestinian Authority (PA) has firmly supported India's claim for a permanent membership in the UN Security Council and urged New Delhi to actively engage in the Middle East peace process.

"Although we don't have a vote in the United Nations to express our support for India, we have our own contacts with our friends and the moral influence to help. If there is one member country at the UN which deserves a permanent membership in the Security Council, its India," Palestinian Authority's deputy foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah told sources in after talks with visiting Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Rajiv Sikri.

Appreciating New Delhi's earlier decision to appoint a special envoy for West Asia, Abdullah said it signals India's desire to be engaged more in the Middle East peace process.

"The Indian special envoy will play an important role in pushing ahead with the implementation of the 'road map' plan for peace approved by the Security Council. Being the single largest democracy that respects the rule of law, India will contribute immensely to the advancement of peace, not only here, but around the world", the deputy Foreign Minister said.

He thanked the Indian government for its 'traditional support for the Palestinian cause' and the people of the country 'for their wholehearted support towards the Palestinians in attaining our freedom and independence'.

Welcoming the 15 million USD financial help that India extended during PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' visit to Delhi in May, Abdullah said it has been agreed during the talks to use this money in the development of PA infrastructure, especially in the IT sector in view of India's expertise in the field.

"There are at least five projects that India will finance. One of them is an IT park in Gaza Strip in the vicinity of one of the settlements, Netzarim, that Israel recently evacuated", he said.

The minister said a part of the money will be utilized for building a high school and added that the Authority will give special attention towards forging collaborations between the University of Jerusalem and advanced academic institutions in India to learn from there progress.

"We hope to reach a cultural agreement in this direction", he said.

Sikri said India has agreed 'in principle' to help in development projects across the PA. The announced aid package will be used in Gaza, Ramallah, Abu Dis and Jerusalem, he added.

"We need to work out the details but have agreed in principle", he said.

The PA leadership briefed the Secretary on the recent developments in the region and expressed hope that Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip and some isolated settlements in the West Bank will be followed by other steps to further the peace process, Palestinian sources said.

Sikri, on a six-day tour of the region, held talks with Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, interior minister Nasser Yousef, the deputy foreign minister, the governor of Gaza and several members of the civil society.

He also invited his PA counterpart to visit India.