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Kuwait's allocations for Palestinians USD 770 million -- ambassador

Kuwait's ambassador to the EU and Belgium, Dharar Abdul Razzak Razzooqi
Kuwait's ambassador to the EU and Belgium, Dharar Abdul Razzak Razzooqi

By Nawab Khan

BRUSSELS, May 28 (KUNA) -- Since 2002 till now the state of Kuwait has contributed over USD 770 million to the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority and to the Palestinian projects through the International Monetary Fund IMF or the World Bank, Kuwait's ambassador to the EU and Belgium, Dharar Abdul Razzak Razzooqi, told a meeting of donors for Palestinian people in Brussels.
"We were very clear in our message. We support the Palestinian people. Moreover, Kuwait also pledged USD 200 million at the Cairo meeting for reconstruction of Gaza last here and has paid the full amount. We are also a very big supporter of the UN agency UNRWA," he told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday.
The annual spring meeting of the donor coordination group for the Palestinian people, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) ended in Brussels, late on Wednesday, by calling for the resumption of talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
"We expressed in the meeting that Palestinians are not only a humanitarian project. The Palestinians are human beings who deserve dignity and must have a political settlement to achieve their alienable rights for statehood," stressed Razzooqi.
"What we want is a Palestinian state which is viable a state that is able to survive. This is our aim. If we only continue humanitarian assistance it is not enough. It is very important for us to have this in mind in order to avoid violence and disturbances in the region. It is not only for the sake of peace for the Palestinians but peace for the Arab world and the international community," noted the Kuwaiti ambassador.
In the meeting, Razzooqi also complained about the illegal Israeli settlements and their expansion saying "it is not helpful for the peace process." "It is about time that we have a target for the Palestinian people. We cannot let things go in endless negotiations. If we want peace and security in the region we have to be sincere and Israel has to fulfill its obligations in terms of international law and human rights law," said Razzooqi.
"The Israelis say they are committed to a two-state solution. But we want a viable Palestinian state. We don't want a Palestinian state cut into pieces," he added to KUNA.
The one-day meeting was chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende and hosted by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini. (end) nk.rk