The role that Turkey is already playing in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East can be best observed in its participation in a UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, according to a prominent member of el-Fatah.Delivering a conference at the Ankara based-Eurasia Strategic Research Center (ASAM), Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Legislative Council member and a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, yesterday praised the Turkish government's efforts for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.
"I must bring you good news from my investigation in Lebanon," Shaath told the audience at ASAM. "I think your soldiers and officers there are the most popular, they are liked and appreciated by everybody and their presence has really been a success on all fronts," Shaath added, also noting that his mother was Lebanese.
In October of last year Turkish soldiers and civilians arrived in Beirut to join the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) making Turkey the first Muslim country to contribute ground troops to the mission. In September the Turkish Parliament, despite widespread objection, approved a government motion to send the troops. Turkey later dispatched forces, comprised mainly of naval force units, to patrol the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey also helps train the Lebanese army and support allied countries in naval and air transport.
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