Thursday June 14, 2007 11:34 by Vasilena Todorova - IMEMC News

The European Union may send forces as a part of a multinational peacekeeping operation in Gaza. The logistics of any deployment are yet to be discussed by participating countries, the EU’s foreign policy chief said on Wednesday.

"If we are asked, of course we will consider that possibility," Javier Solana told reporters in Brussels about collaborating with other states to stabilize Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on Tuesday for an international military presence at the Gaza-Egypt border to seize any support for Hamas coming from the south. Egypt, which is responsible for border crossing in the area, would not easily accept a foreign army at its door, said Solana. Already there are about 70 EU personnel monitoring the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt.

Other talks of “international presence” in the region have been raised by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at an informal meeting with UN Security Council members on Tuesday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had requested UN support in a telephone call earlier that day, said Ki-moon.

"This is an idea for which we need to explore the possibilities," Ban said. "I have yet to discuss more in detail with the countries concerned." Countries need to agree on the location and mission of peacekeepers and other planning before finalizing their decision to send troops, said the Secretary-General.

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