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CFR spanks Palestinian Authority

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE

Thursday, July 1, 1999

NEW YORK [MENL] -- The Palestinian Authority must quickly improve its administration and human rights record or risk losing the support of its people, a group of international experts say.

A task force sponsored by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations urged PA Chairman Yasser Arafat to make serious efforts to build a democratic political system and pluralist civil society, as well as developing a free market economy and sustainable growth. The report was presented to Arafat on Monday in Ramallah.

The independent task force was chaired by Michel Rocard, former prime minister of France, and includes five former heads of state and other world leaders.

The report says the PA has achieved "levels of service delivery, revenue mobilization, financial accountability, and utilization of international assistance that are at least commensurate with, and in some aspects exceed, those in countries of comparable development and income."

But the report adds that "much remains to be done." The council calls on the PA to adopt a constitution; establish accountability for the executive branch to the legislature; centralize all public revenues and expenditures in the Finance Ministry, and ensure the independence of the judiciary.

The council cited a loss of support in the PA. The report pointed to opinion polls among Palestinians that show "dissatisfaction with the level of public services, a perception of waste and corruption in the public administration and police, and a loss of faith in the institutions of governance, particularly the Palestinian Legislative Council and the judiciary."

"Confidence in the PA's institutions affects its contest for legitimacy with radical elements that reject the Oslo accords and claim to do a better job than the PA at delivering certain services to the Palestinian people," the council said. "This confidence bears on the PA's ability to negotiate and compromise with Israel and affects Israel's confidence in the PA's ability to implement agreements. Good governance is therefore a necessary condition for the success of the peace process."

PA officials expressed satisfaction with the report. "This is a positive report," PA International Cooperation and Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said on Wednesday. "The report confirms PA achievements and says that in five years we've done more than other countries of comparable size and income."

Thursday, July 1, 1999



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