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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Italy donates 20 motorcycles to PA tourist police |
| 2009-09-02 |
| Ma'an -- The government of Italy delivered 20 Piaggio X7 motorcycles and a Mitsubishi pickup truck to the Palestinian Authority tourist police on Tuesday. The donation, coordinated by the European police training and assistance mission EUPOL COPPS, includes training on use and maintenance of the vehicles as well as fleet management. Motorcycle helmets and protective clothing will also be delivered to all the drivers. The European mission said the consignment will significantly enhance the mobility of the Tourist Department of the Palestinian Civil Police throughout the West Bank. The tourist police previously shared just a few vehicles among its 80 staff. The pick-up truck will provide the tourist police with the ability to reach remote tourist sites and investigate cases of trafficking in antiquities. The delivery of another three specialised vehicles for the Tourist Department is still pending, according to EUPOL COPPS. On the occasion Italian Consul General, Luciano Pezzotti, said, in a statement, "This donation is an example of Italy's commitment to building the essential institutions of a future Palestinian state." "In the field of security, the Tourist Police have a fundamental role in protecting the national Palestinian heritage and improving the local economy". EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission, Chief Constable (ret.) Paul Kernaghan, added, "The twenty motorcycles provide the sort of mobility that the Tourist Department is in acute need of, particularly when negotiating the narrow roads in the centers of towns like Bethlehem. "The vehicles will also extend the reach of the Tourist Department to the main archeological sites throughout the West Bank," he also said. The contribution is part of an Italian donation of 1,928,000 US dollars to support the Palestinian Tourist and Traffic Police Departments which includes already-completed specialized driving courses for 50 Traffic Police and 33 Tourist Police officers. Last month five Palestinian officers from the Tourist Police Unit completed a two-week driving training course in the University of Turin, Italy. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 Having driven in Italy (even Rome), I understand your comments, Verlaine. I doubt anyone who HASN'T been to Italy would understand. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-09-02 22:23 |
| #6 The Piaggio X7 is a scooter (I think Piaggio is the parent company of Vespa). I think it's a 250cc. So, not like they gave them a bunch of Ducatis or anything. |
| Posted by: spiffo 2009-09-02 13:32 |
| #5 Sheesh, I can't believe you guys leave it to me for the easy lay-up/slam dunk/empty net goal here: a two-week driving training course in the University of Turin, Italy. Driver training .... in ITALY?? |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2009-09-02 11:51 |
| #4 Do they come pre-equipped with bombs? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-09-02 09:26 |
| #3 There are parts of the United States that could use that. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-09-02 01:07 |
| #2 They have a special police unit for dealing with crimes by tourists? |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-09-02 01:07 |
| #1 Ah, so this is what's meant by "Cycle of Violence". |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-09-02 00:19 |