Mr Chairman,
1 Singapore is pleased to participate in this Conference to pledge support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas. This Conference represents an important and timely step forward following the Annapolis Conference last month. I join my colleagues in expressing our sincere appreciation to the leadership role played by France and the other Conference co-chairs as we pursue the common goal of building a lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
2 Singapore has consistently taken a principled position in support of an independent Palestinian state. At the same time, Singapore supports the right of Israel to live in security. At the basic human level, all Israelis and Palestinians have the same wish; that is to live in peace and security and to be able to provide a brighter future for their families. Annapolis has demonstrated that there is broad support, both from within and outside the Middle East, for a two-state solution. But for there to be sustainable peace, an independent Palestinian state must have well-established institutions and a viable economic future.
3 Singapore stands prepared to share our experience with Palestinian officials in areas that might be relevant to the 2008-2010 Palestinian Reform and Development Plan. To this end, we will design a special SGD$1,000,000 (US$700,000) technical assistance package administered by the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Although Singapore was not at Annapolis, we hope that our modest efforts will contribute towards capacity-building. Let me conclude by reiterating that Singapore is committed to supporting all efforts to achieve the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
4 Thank you.
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