RAMALLAH, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The British government announced Wednesday that it will offer the Palestinian National Authority ( PNA) 35 million pounds (55 million U.S. dollars) in aid to back its budget.
Britain would donate additional three million pounds (4.71 million dollars) to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency ( UNRWA) and another two million pounds (3.14 million dollars) as an urgent aid to the private sector in the Gaza Strip, British Minister of State for International Development Minister Alan Duncan told a joint press conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
He said that Britain highly values the PNA's efforts in building up its institutions, adding "we follow up the active steps to complete the building of its institutions and we will keep supporting it."
Meanwhile, Fayyad said that the international community has to carry its responsibilities towards ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories that were occupied in 1967.
He reiterated that he is following up the mechanisms of work and the needed measures to establish the state of Palestine before the mid of next year.
Fayyad revealed that Britain had donated to the PNA until 2007 340 million dollars, which supported its budget and the projects for infrastructure.
There is a progress towards ending the deficiency in the PNA's budget, he said, adding that the PNA is trying to achieve more self-dependence and be independent on foreign donations.
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