Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said that Norway is set to make its first direct aid transfer to the Palestinian government; he invited other countries to follow Norway's' example.
Norway intends to transfer, in the next few days, ten million dollars to a financial account that has been structured by Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad.
The transfer comes two months after Norway broke ranks with other western countries and recognised the Hamas led coalition.
The suspension of direct aid to the Palestinians led to an economic crisis in the Palestinian territories and disrupted health care, as well as other programs that were funded by the Palestinian government.
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but has often followed the E.U. in foreign policy matters.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told the Annual Europe Conference in Oslo that, "We closely follow the 27 member of the E.U. but we have to decide for ourselves and it may happen that we make decisions that are distinctive."
Philippines Gets More E.U. Disaster Aid
Brussels - The European Commission has decided to give the Philippines an additional 710,000 Euros for humanitarian aid to devastated provinces that were hit by typhoons in the last four months of 2006.
A series of four typhoons killed more than 1,300 people and left some 1.5 million people homeless in Bicole .
Now, six months after the typhoons hit, hundreds of thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters in the region, according to the European Commission.
The additional assistance, will focus on providing support to those who are still in transit centers.
The Philippines' rainy season was expected to begin later in this month and another typhoon is predicted to hit the country.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
Israel Rafalovich: Palestinian Foreign Minister Abu Amr; "E.U. Should Deal with Us as a National Unity Government"
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=3514&blz=1
Norway intends to transfer, in the next few days, ten million dollars to a financial account that has been structured by Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad.
The transfer comes two months after Norway broke ranks with other western countries and recognised the Hamas led coalition.
The suspension of direct aid to the Palestinians led to an economic crisis in the Palestinian territories and disrupted health care, as well as other programs that were funded by the Palestinian government.
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but has often followed the E.U. in foreign policy matters.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told the Annual Europe Conference in Oslo that, "We closely follow the 27 member of the E.U. but we have to decide for ourselves and it may happen that we make decisions that are distinctive."
Philippines Gets More E.U. Disaster Aid
Brussels - The European Commission has decided to give the Philippines an additional 710,000 Euros for humanitarian aid to devastated provinces that were hit by typhoons in the last four months of 2006.
A series of four typhoons killed more than 1,300 people and left some 1.5 million people homeless in Bicole .
Now, six months after the typhoons hit, hundreds of thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters in the region, according to the European Commission.
The additional assistance, will focus on providing support to those who are still in transit centers.
The Philippines' rainy season was expected to begin later in this month and another typhoon is predicted to hit the country.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
Israel Rafalovich: Palestinian Foreign Minister Abu Amr; "E.U. Should Deal with Us as a National Unity Government"
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=3514&blz=1