Saniora Pledges $1 Million in Aid for Gaza
Lebanon has pledged a $1 million in aid to help for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora told international donors meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.
Addressing the conference, Saniora voiced hope that the current lull in fighting in Gaza "is not only temporary" calling for any future Arab dialogue to be aimed at "building the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He blamed ongoing tragedies to "the lack of a comprehensive and just peaceful solution to the Palestinian cause."
Pledges ahead of the conference from the United States, the European Union and the Gulf monarchies amount to more than $3 billion.
The Palestinian Authority is seeking $2.8 billion from the 70-odd countries and donor groups gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh six weeks after the guns fell largely silent around the besieged Gaza Strip.
While hoping that the Palestinians can be given back their rights, Saniora reminded the conference that Lebanon was still reeling from the destruction left by Israel”s 2006 war. "Lebanon still needs more than $500 million for reconstruction. The Lebanese government cannot provide such large amounts of funds."
Pointing out to another devastated area, Saniora said pledges by "brotherly and friendly states to help rebuild Nahr el-Bared have yet to be fulfilled." He estimated the initial cost of the camp”s reconstruction at $300 million.
Following the conference”s opening session, Saniora met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and discussed recent Palestinian reconciliation agreement the future prospects of better ties among Arab states.
Among Arab leaders, Saniora also held separate talks with the Bahraini king, Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa, Kuwaiti vice president and Foreign Minister Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan and Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari.
In addition, Saniora discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the Arab world with the U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is also Mideast quartet envoy.