AHLC Report: Agenda in support of Palestinian Economic Sustainability and Institution Building
Quartet Representative Tony Blair said:
“This AHLC meeting in Brussels comes at a profoundly important time for the Palestinian Authority (PA). Amid a steep fiscal crisis, slowing economic trends and continuing political uncertainty, policy reforms and institution-building plans implemented by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad are coming under increasing financial strain.
“While efforts continue to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, it is important in the coming period to redouble our efforts to shore up the fiscal position of the Palestinian Authority and to re-energize the Palestinian economy.
“Sustaining economic growth and job creation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will require new actions by various parties. These actions should aim at boosting investor confidence and further unlock the immense potential of the Palestinian private sector.
“My development agenda in 2012 focuses on seven thematic areas related to the economic growth and institution-building, specifically:
- Private sector development
- Promoting movement, access and trade facilitation
- Area C development
- Reconstructing and opening up Gaza economically;
- Improving living and business conditions in East Jerusalem;
- Improving the rule of law covering the judicial and security sectors;
- Strengthening the PA fiscal position.
“The goal of this development agenda, again, is to catalyse significant economic change on the ground to give greater oxygen to the political negotiation process. So the ‘ground-up’ economic agenda will continue to provide critical support to the ‘top-down’ political process.”
OQR’s Key Priorities in 2012
In 2012, Quartet Representative Tony Blair’s key priorities within this development agenda focus on four areas:
- Working with the PA to resolve the short-term and medium-term energy problems in Gaza;
- Promoting greater Palestinian trade flows between Gaza, the West Bank, and international markets;
- Promoting Area C development through agreed fast-tracking mechanisms and the active participation of local Palestinian communities;
- Pressing for greater direct budget support from regional and international donors to help the PA overcome its acute fiscal crisis.
Document Type: Press Release
Document Sources: Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR), Quartet
Subject: Access and movement, Assistance, Economic issues, Gaza Strip, Governance, Holy places, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Jerusalem, Quartet, Statehood-related
Publication Date: 21/03/2012