International donors pledged on Monday to provide 7.4 billion US
dollars to support Palestine in the coming three years, a key
effort to drive the newly-relaunched Middle East peace process.
French President
Nicolas Sarkozy (C), French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L)
and former British Prime Minister and international envoy for the
Middle East Tony Blair arrive at the international donors
conference in Paris Dec. 17, 2007.
"Our goal had been for 5.6 billion US dollars. Now we have 7.4
billion US dollars," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told
reporters after a one-day conference aimed at mobilizing political
and financial support for the emergence of a viable Palestinian
state.
Kouchner said the international contribution of 7.4 billion US
dollars would be spread over the coming three years. Of the total,
3.4 billions US dollars would be paid in 2008 to the Palestinian
government to fill up its huge budget deficit.
The amount exceeded Palestine's expectations. The Palestinian
delegation, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, had sought
5.6 billion US dollars in aid for the next three years to relieve
economic hardship in Palestine, based on a development plan
produced by the acting Palestinian government in West Bank.
According to a three-year reform plan presented by Palestinian
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, 70 percent of the sum raised will be
first put into budget use, with the remaining for development.
"The real winner today is the Palestinian state," Kouchner
said.
France, as the host, announced during the conference that it
will contribute just over 200 million euros (300 million US
dollars) in an effort to lead the aid drive, while Britain and
Germany were ready to provide 500 million US dollars and 200 euros
(289 million US dollars) respectively.
French President
Nicolas Sarkozy (C) welcomes US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
(L) as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas looks on at the start of
the international donors conference in Paris Dec. 17,
2007.
In addition to member states, the European Union (EU), which
co-chaired the conference, pledged 440 million euros (650 million
US dollars to the Palestinian people for 2008.
The EU is the largest single donor to Palestine. In 2007, the
European Commission provided 550 million euros in assistance which
together with the member states contributions amounted a total EU
aid of one billion euros.
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said
Monday further large amount of aid could be available in 2009 and
2010.
Norway, the third co-chair of the conference, pledged 140
million US dollars a year for the next three years.
The United States has said it is pledging about 555 million US
dollars for 2008, which includes around 400 million US dollars the
White House announced but has not been approved by the US
congress.
Saudi Arabia agreed to pay 500 million US dollars over three
years, and two other Arab countries, namely United Arab Emirates
and Kuwait, will provide 300 million US dollars each.
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2007)
