Japan funds rehabilitation of Palestinian police communications system – UNDP/PAPP press release

Japan, supporting Palestinian reform, aids civil police

Thursday, 31 July 2003: With funds from the Government of Japan, the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People is helping the Palestinian Ministry of the Interior to revamp the civil police force.

Japan is providing US$300,000 to rehabilitate the police communications system. The force handles routine police activities, such as controlling road traffic and keeping public order.

Welcoming Japan's assistance, Mohammad Dahlan, Minister of State for Security Affairs, said: "An essential part of reform is fostering the confidence of the average Palestinian on the street in the Palestinian Authority's commitment to serving them better. What better way than through empowering the police to serve the safety concerns of citizens quickly and efficiently."

A modern communications system is essential for enabling the police to respond to the needs of citizens, who rely on them to maintain public safety. The project will jump-start the pilot phase of an extensive effort by the Ministry of the Interior to improve public services.

Revitalizing the civil police and improving its ability to maintain law and order on the streets is an important component of the Palestinian Authority's reform efforts to implement the "road map" for peace.

Put forth by the European Union, Russia, the United Nations, and the United States — known as the "quartet" — the road map sets out a blueprint for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and establishing a Palestinian state in three years.

UNDP has been playing a central role in support of reform since the Palestinian Authority launched a 100-day reform plan last year to improve public administration. UNDP has mobilized approximately US$13 million to support these efforts, of which the lion's share of $11 million is from the Government of Japan.

UNDP and Japan are helping strengthen other Palestinian institutions concerned with law and order, such as the construction of new courthouses in Khan Younis and Nablus and an administrative building for the Palestinian Ministry of Justice.

These efforts support the reform process and also provide landmarks for the Palestinian Authority in its drive to follow the road map towards peace.

For further information please contact Ehab Shanti or Dania Darwish, UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People.