Eu backs fresh gaza border checks
brussels : the european union on friday said it was willing to reactivate an EU mission on the Egypt-GAZA border to help stabilise the Palestinian enclave after weeks of war. at talks in brussels,foreign ministers representing the 28 Eu counrties welcomed a ceasefire in Gaza and said they could relaunch the Eu border Assistance Mission for the Rafah crossing point(Eubam Refah). "The EU is ready to support a possible international mechanism endorsed by the UN Security council,including through the reactivation and possible extension in scope and mandate of its EUBAM Rafah" a statement following the EU meeting said. EUBAM started to monitor the Rafah crossing point-the main window on the world for Gaza's 1.8 million palestinians-in 2005 as part of an accord aimed at easing Israeli security concerns after it pulled its troops and settlers from Gaza. However,the operation was halted two years later when Hamas militants seized control of the coastal enclave. to help reactivate the mission,the EU foreign ministers said they also supported the launch of training for Palestinian Authority customs personnel and police for redeployment in Gaza. The ministers also raised the possibility that an international donors'conference could be organised to help pay for reconstruction os Gaza.