Japan's Assistance for Palestinian Reforms

October 31, 2002

The Government of Japan has decided to make a contribution totaling 2,900,000 dollars, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to assist its reform efforts in such fields as democratization, the establishment of the rule of law, and the reconstruction of the administrative system, along the lines of the roadmap for support to the Palestinian Autonomous Areas announced by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, when she visited the Areas in June this year.
The contributed money will be used for such purposes as the provision of equipment and materials necessary for the elections of the PA Chairman and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC); human resources development in reform priority fields by Palestinian experts in foreign countries; establishment and strengthening of an auditing system to secure financial transparency; strengthening of PLC functions; and surveys on the present status of local autonomy and on preparations for formulating an action plan.
The Government of Japan expects that this assistance will promote Palestinian efforts for nation-building of an independent state and that both the Palestinians and Israelis will get out of the vicious circle of violence and contribute to promoting the peace process for achieving the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.

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