On December 20, to support the Middle East peace process, Japan decided to contribute $60 million from its FY2004 supplementary budget.
This aid will be extended to promote the Middle East peace process by supporting the economic and social development of the Palestinian Territories, in light of the recent development towards the resumption of the Middle East peace process including the smooth transition of power to the new Palestinian leadership after the demise of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Ra'ees of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority and Chairman of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization), as well as the ongoing preparations for withdrawing Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and other areas in and after March 2005.
To support the election of the next Ra'ees of the Palestinian Authority scheduled on January 9, 2005, Japan has already announced its contribution of $1.06 million and it is also preparing to dispatch an election monitoring mission.
[Related links]
* Emergence Assistance for the Election of the Ra'ees of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority
* Middle East Peace Process
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