BRUSSELS, March 16, 2012 (WAFA) – The donor coordination group for the Palestinian people, the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), is scheduled to discuss in its upcoming meeting in Brussels Palestinian financial needs for the next year, according to a statement issued Friday.
The meeting, to be held on Wednesday, will be hosted by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and presided over by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his capacity as chair of the AHLC. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and the Quartet envoy Tony Blair will attend the meeting.
The upcoming meeting will assess the outlook for 2012 with a focus on the Palestinian macroeconomic situation and the budget of the Palestinian Authority, said the EU press release.
The meeting will discuss steps that can be taken to enhance the sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, strengthen private sector growth, and improve the situation on the ground.
Developments since the last meeting will be assessed based on reports from the parties, the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and the Quartet Representative.
The AHLC had previously welcomed the assessment that the Palestinian Authority had crossed the threshold for a functioning state in key sectors and that Palestinian institutions compared favorably with those in established states.
It also commended the building of robust state institutions and the revival of the Palestinian economy as an international success story.
“All participants to the AHLC meeting have a responsibility in guaranteeing that these achievements are maintained and that the state-building process will be matched with progress in accomplishing a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” said Ashton ahead of the meeting.
“The overarching objective of the EU remains the creation of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. This is all the more urgent in the current regional context,” she said.
Since its establishment in 1993 the AHLC has served as the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the Palestinian people. The strategic role of the AHLC is to underpin political efforts to achieve a two-state solution including by supporting Palestinian institution building.
M.S.
