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21:15 GMT
LONDON, Jan 18 (KUNA) -- The UK Government is offering 17 million pounds
for the Palestinian Authority with the aim of supporting education in the
occupied territories, Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt announced on
Tuesday.
The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that Burt made the aid pledge
during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad in the West Bank
town of Ramallah.
Burt said that the financial allocation was intended to pay salaries of 340
teachers and help 15,000 students be able to have access to clean water for
drinking.
The British official, during the meeting, praised the successful efforts of
the premier and his team of aides for state building, under guidance of
President Mahmoud Abbas.
Burt said, "I am very impressed by the progress that Prime Minister Fayyad
and his team are making on the state building agenda under the guidance of
President Abbas. I applaud the Prime Ministers dynamic leadership which has
helped achieve this progress.
"It has made a difference to the lives of Palestinians, not least in the
key sector of security, and has advanced the prospect of creating through
negotiations an independent and viable Palestinian state living in peace with
a secure Israel."
The UK remains committed to assisting the Palestinians in their
preparations for statehood, he added.
Burt re-affirmed London's unwavering support for the Palestinians'
aspiration to establish an independent state and condemned construction of
illegal Israeli settlements. (end)
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KUNA 190015 Jan 11NNNN