The International Conference on Gaza Reconstruction, hosted by Egypt on March 2nd, enjoys extensive international participation
Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry stated that the international conference, which will be hosted by Egypt on the March 2nd 2009, is to support the Palestinian economy to reconstruct Gaza. He added that the conference will be a milestone in the solidarity of the international community with the Palestinian people, and will put the issue of reconstruction of what the Israeli war had devastated on the top of the international priorities for upcoming years.
The Spokesman outlined that President Mubarak's keenness on inaugurating the conference stresses Egypt's historical commitment towards the Palestinian cause, and its pivotal role towards supporting humanitarian relief aid and reconstruction of the Strip. He added that the participation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the opening session reflect the attention the great powers give to the conference. It will also be attended by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Arab League Secretary General, Amr Mousa, EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in addition to other heads of organizations and regional and international institutions who were invited all to take part.
The Spokesman highlighted that the conference was one of the main issues tackled during Aboul Gheit’s meeting with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Senior Officials in the American administration during his last visit to Washington. Aboul Gheit hailed the American administration's concern about the conference, as Mrs. Clinton pledged to participate on top of a high-level American delegation, especially that the US will be one of the sponsors of this important international conference.
The Spokesman demonstrated the general preparations held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the conference, which will be held at the International Congress Center in Sharm El Sheikh. He pointed that about 75 countries are to participate in the conference; most of them – especially the Arab, the EU and the great industrial countries – will be represented on the Foreign Ministerial level. The Spokesman, furthermore, hailed the keenness of the regional and international organizations over the conference, in particular the UN, the Arab League, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC), the Islamic Bank for Development (IBD), the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). He hailed the role played by some of the aforementioned organizations in helping the Palestinian National Authority to conclude a comprehensive calculation of the needs of the Strip in the field of the reconstruction.
The Spokesman affirmed that the document to be prepared by the Palestinian Authority will be the only comprehensive document to be presented to the conference. He outlined that the participant countries, organizations and institutions will be demanded to respond to it, and to announce donations and pledges which are to cover the needs and the projects; whether it be urgent, medium or long-run.
Country: Egypt
Subject: Assistance, Gaza Strip
Publication Date: 16/02/2009