Brussels, 19/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The donor coordination group for the Palestinian people, the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), will meet in Brussels on 21 March. The meeting will assess the outlook for 2012, with a focus on the Palestinian macroeconomic situation and the budget of the Palestinian Authority. The meeting will discuss steps that can be taken to enhance the sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, strengthen private-sector-led growth, and improve the situation on the ground. Developments since the last meeting will be assessed based on reports from the parties, the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and the Quartet Representative.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, who will host the meeting, said on 16 March that all those taking part had a responsibility in guaranteeing that achievements, such as the building of robust state institutions and the revival of the Palestinian economy, are maintained and that “the state-building process will be matched with progress in accomplishing comprehensive peace in the Middle East”. The meeting of the AHLC, which is the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the Palestinian people, will be chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store and will be attended by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Quartet Envoy Tony Blair. (CG/transl.rt)