Xinhua
August 8, 2012 - 12:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-08/08/c_131768562.htm


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday urged donor countries to support the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)'s crippling budget deficit.

"The PNA suffers a difficult financial situation," Abbas said at a meeting with Toni Blair, the former British prime minister who is now the envoy of the International Middle East peacemakers, known as the Quartet.

A statement published on official Palestinian news agency Wafa, said that Abbas has urged the Quartet, which comprises the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, to intervene and ease the crisis.

The Quartet should urge the donors, including Arab states to " meet their financial obligations toward the PNA," according to the statement.

The PNA budget deficit for the current year exceeds the sum of 1 billion U.S. dollars due to lack of foreign aid assistance.

The crisis sharpened after the Palestinian leadership has suspended direct peace talk with Israel since October 2010 due to the continuing Israeli settlement construction.




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