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Ninety international delegations are expected at the one-day Conference of Donors for a Palestinian State, the biggest of its kind since 1996, which aims to shore up the process started in the US city of Annapolis last month.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is seeking USD 5.6 billion (3.85 billion euros) spread over 2008 to 2010 for an ambitious development plan to underwrite a promised state and tackle economic hardship in the Palestinian territories.
The United States is ready to pledge more than USD 500 million, officials in Washington said.
Delegates gathering for the occasion include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will represent Israel, which is under pressure to lift restrictions on freedom of movement in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip to allow the Palestinian Authority's plan to take shape.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair, peace envoy for the Middle East quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States is co-chair of the event along with host country France, peace-broker Norway and the European Commission.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will open the proceedings, at Abbas' side. - DDNEWS
Posted December 17th, 2007 by Armen Hareyan
