The new troops to be deployed by the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces to the Golan Heights will use Russian weapons.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun at Korovou, Tailevu, on Thursday the RFMF Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto said the military arms experts had tested the new weapons which they deemed very good.

“They were very simple and had been specifically manufactured for peacekeeping duties,” the RFMF Commander said.

According to the commander the new arms were needed because Fijian peacekeepers were working in volatile areas and they were using outdated arms.

He again thanked the Russian government for the timely donation.

The new batch he said would also use the body armour.

Rear-Admiral Naupoto said the new batch of Golan peacekeepers had not yet marched into camp.

When they march to camp he said they would be using the new weapons.

The Russian government had also sent in trainers to train the trainers at RFMF.

He said the soldiers at the Golan Heights were carrying out their duties faithfully and had been reminded to keep the Fiji flag flying high all the time.Their morale he said was high.

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly fuming over indications that there were plans for a negotiated settlement for Syria. The settlement is being carried out with the support of the US, Russia and other major powers, could specify that the entire Golan Heights, including the western two-thirds of the strategic ridge captured by Israel in 1967, was reverted back as Syrian land.Mr Netanyahu visited the Golan Heights on Monday.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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