Israeli-Palestinian Wye Memorandum – UNDP press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (PAPP)

MAKING WYE WORK

Across the world people witnessed the historic signing ceremony on 23 October 1998 as Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat, President Clinton, and Prime Minister Netanyahu signed the Wye Memorandum in the White House in the presence of His Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan, This important agreement reinvigorated the long stalled Middle East peace process and renewed hope for peace.

In addition to key provisions concerning land-for-peace and security, the Wye Memorandum also called for the opening of a newly constructed Palestinian airport in the Gaza Strip, safe passage for Palestinians moving between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the opening of a Gaza Industrial Estate. and other matters related to economic development in the area.

Hours after Chairman Arafat returned to Gaza following the White House signing ceremony of the Wye Memorandum, UNDP/PAPP officials requested a meeting with him to discuss Palestinian priorities in order to realize immediately the economic opportunities that had been opened by the historic agreement. Following a meeting with Chairman Arafat and his senior advisors on 1 November, the next day UNDP/PAPP began work to implement two priority activities for the Palestinian Authority: finishing touches on the new airport in Gaza, which will be inaugurated soon, and the construction of passenger terminal facilities at Erex, and Rafah to facilitate the safe passage principles agreed upon in the Memorandum.

The construction of the passenger terminal facilities will be carried out by UNDP/PAPP in co-operation with the Programme Management Unit of the Palestinian Economic Council for Reconstruction and Development (PECDAR/PMU), headed by Dr. Nabil Sharif, and will generate numerous employment opportunities in Gaza

At the northern and southern tips of the Gaza Strip in Erez and Rafah, UNDP/PAPP will be constructing terminal facilities for passengers, including dining facilities, restrooms and covered parking spaces for automobiles, The total approximate contribution from UNDP/PAPP will amount to US$2.5 million in support of the above-mentioned activities.

"It is a pleasure, in less than two weeks after the signing of the Wye Memorandum, to be positioned to provide this needed assistance to the Palestinian people," remarked a senior official from the UNDP/PAPP Office in Gaza. "No other Organization has the capacity to move so quickly and Chairman Arafat personally chose these activities and expressed his appreciation for the quick action of UNDP/PAPP," he added.

For further information please contact Mr. Khaled Abdul Shafi, Head of the UNDP/PAPP in Gaza. Tel. No. 072827753 Fax No. 07 2822021.

November 1998