Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan also said Singapore will continue to use the S$10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package to help the Palestinian Authority prepare for eventual statehood.
Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan urged Israel and Palestine to take steps toward long-lasting peace and put an end to the suffering "that has gone on for far too long".SINGAPORE: Singapore is"prepared in principle" to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state if it has an effective government that renounces terrorism and accepts Israel 's right to exist, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said in parliament on Tuesday .
"Our key consideration is that such a move on our part should help progress toward peace and a negotiated two-state solution." In response to a supplementary question by MP Gerald Giam on what thresholds would need to be crossed for Singapore to recognise the state of Palestine, Dr Balakrishnan said the principle consideration is whether, when Singapore takes that step, it helps or hinders the progress towards peace.
Dr Balakrishnan said there are two different dimensions - whether there is an effective Palestinian leadership is a separate question from whether there is a recognisable Palestinian state. The Israelis and Palestinians need to exercise leadership and work together for a better future, he said. More than 750 officials have also been trained in areas like diplomacy, water management and economic development, said Dr Balakrishnan.
"We hope that these training opportunities will help Palestinian Authority officials better serve the Palestinian people, as well as equip them with the necessary skills when it comes to the eventual reconstruction of Gaza," said Dr Balakrishnan.
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