By Falastine Al-Remawi
RAMALLAH, July 4, 2011 (WAFA)- The Lord Mayor of the city of London, Alderman Michael Bear, said on Monday during a press conference in Ramallah that the World Bank reported real economic growth in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of 9.3% while it is 1.7 in the United Kingdom, “ This is an amazing achievement and you are well ahead of us on growth.”
Bear said that “ I’m so delighted to be in Ramallah and it is an opportunity to bring with us the skills that we have built London on, to Palestine to share with you and to help you realize your aspiration and dreams not only in financial services but in education, capacity building, infrastructure, service sector and in many aspects of industry.”
He also said that he looks forward to seeing the Palestinian teams participate in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics games, which London will host.
The lord mayor’s two-day visit in Ramallah aims to demonstrate UK support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in their state-building efforts. Bear said that he will explore how the city of London can contribute to the Palestinian Authority’s development plans, and follow up on the successful road show in London last week conducted by Palestinian stock exchange (PEX).
On his Part, the British Consul-General in Jerusalem, Sir Vincent Fean, said that the British Government strongly supports the Palestinian state-building. It urges the resumption of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians led by the PLO negotiations on a serious basis. “ We and the whole European Union believe that the outcome of talks should be peace, security and prosperity for the state of Israel and peace, security and prosperity for the sovereign state of Palestine comprising Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, on the basis of the 1967 borders with agreed land swaps.”
He added that the British government endorses the EU’s welcome for the reconciliation and free elections to bring the West Bank and Gaza back together again. “ We will support a Palestinian government, which holds true to the peaceful political direction of president Abbas and the PLO.”
He said “ we will judge the government by its actions; we expect these actions to be positive, and devoted solely to meeting the legitimate needs of the Palestinian people, just like the present government of Salam Fayyad.”
He said that Britain will offer Palestinians friendship, support, English language, education and training, “ Palestinian people are a young people who are bright, versatile and determinedly outward-looking despite all the constrains, especially in Gaza.” “ I want to see more Palestinians studying and training in the UK, as part of our two way street of strengthened ties.”
At the end of the conference, Ramallah Governor Laila Ghanam decorated Bear with a medal and a traditional Palestinian veil.
Bear granted a Palestinian female employee, Sherine al-Ahmad, the Mansion house Scholarship Scheme, which is an award to assist in the cost of undertaking training courses and associated business attachments in the city of London.
