Peace is and has always been a crucial factor for economic development in Palestine. Unfortunately during the course of the past five years, economic growth has been totally unstable due to the turbulences depicted within the peace process. However, despite these disturbances, our people validated, again, their incredible ability to adapt even under the toughest circumstances in anticipation for just and comprehensive peace. Peace that will be finally achieved in terms of international legitimacy, which has always been supportive to call of justice to all peoples of the region including the Palestinian people on the basis of UN resolutions 242 and 338.
By now, all interim agreements should have been concluded, witnessing the end of the interim period. However, the slow and continuously interrupted manner of implementation, of interim agreements, have pushed up towards the Final Status Negotiations parallel to remaining interim issues.

The Final Status Issues are considered to be corner stones for the future of Palestine: A Palestinian State within secure borders and Jerusalem as its capital; the right of return to all Palestinian Refugees who for the past 53 years have been awaiting this return; the end of the colonization program now being staged on our land through Jewish settlements; and finally regaining total control on our natural resources. Those are the pillars for just and permanent peace that can only be achieved through ending occupation and all its apparatuses.

Parallel to our commitment to peace comes our determination to achieve economic development, social welfare and good governance. Furthermore, a privatization program has bees already launched and measures of administrative reform were taken.

On the basis of this, we hope that the Donors’ assistance that we receive and the international effort that we witness concerning the development of our economy and building of our state, shall continue and persevere until we fulfill our aspirations and legitimate dreams.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the donors for their sincere efforts and the Palestinian economic council for Development and Reconstruction for the excellent work they are doing through which tangible results are being produced to our people.

May God Bless you all

Yasser Arafat
Chairman of the PLO
President of the
Palestinian National Authority