FINLAND PLEDGES $12-14 MILLION FOR PALESTINIAN

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000106


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM PTER EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND PLEDGES $12-14 MILLION FOR PALESTINIAN
ASSISTANCE

REF: STATE 20388


1. In a meeting with Econoff on March 9, Desk Officer for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Middle East and North Africa
Unit Anna Savolainen confirmed that Finland has pledged
between $12 million and $14 million this year for assistance
to the Palestinian Authority. This includes $4.5 million the
Finnish government (GOF) already committed in January 2009 to
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).


BULK OF GOF ASSISTANCE FUNDS TO BILATERAL PROJECTS
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2. The remaining $7.5million to $9.5 million will be
distributed via a variety of bilateral development projects.
Projects under consideration include capacity building at the
Ministry of Education; a water rehabilitation project in the
northwest villages of East Jerusalem; and implementation of
the second phase of a World Bank-sponsored land registration
project. The GOF has not yet decided if pledged funds will be
used for budgetary support, humanitarian assistance or both.


BUTLER