UAE renews support to Palestinian people, national authority

Abu Dhabi, June 26, 2008 (WAM)- The United Arab Emirates has re-affirmed its commitment to support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority.

In a speech delivered before the Conference in Support of
Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law, opened in Berlin, Dr Anwar
Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the UAE was
seeking to become a partner in stability, development and peace.

"I seize this opportunity to stress the need to adhere to Annapolis track as
an approach for the just peace we all seek to achieve and to establish the
independent Palestinian state to further enhance security and stability in
our region," Gargash said.

He said that from 1994 to 2008, UAE had provided around US$ 4.2 billion in
economic and social aid to Palestine, including 300 million pledged during
the donors conference in Paris. The UAE has already paid US$50 million of
the pledged amount. Gargash also referred to Israel's negative role in
undermining Palestinian security.