VZCZCXRO3158
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0979 1581424
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061424Z JUN 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1754
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000979
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PREL EAID
SUBJECT: PREPARATORY MEETING FOR BERLIN CONFERENCE ON
PALESTINIAN CIVIL SECURITY AND RULE OF LAW
REF: BERLIN 565
1. SUMMARY. Palestinian Authority (PA) representatives
briefed proposals for police/justice sector donor funding for
the June 24 Berlin conference at a German-chaired, June 5
meeting in Jericho. The representatives said the proposals
are consistent with the Palestinian Reconstruction and
Development Plan (PRDP) presented to donors in Paris. At
least seven countries have confirmed Foreign Minister-level
participation at the Berlin conference and participants said
PM Fayyad will attend and that Israeli FM Tzipi Livni is
considering attending. END SUMMARY.
PROJECT-ORIENTED APPROACH
-------------------------
2. German Ambassador Andreas Michaelis, Director-General for
Near and Middle Eastern Affairs, chaired a preparatory
meeting on June 5 in Jericho for the June 24 Berlin
conference on assistance to the Palestinian police, justice
sector and rule of law. PA Ministry of Interior (MoI)
representative Khalid Salim said Palestinian project
proposals are within the framework of the PRDP and reflect PA
priorities. He said the proposals include budgets, timelines
and progress indicators and are not simply concept papers.
Ministry of Planning Director-General for Aid Management
Cairo Arafat said the PA's highest priority remains direct
budget support, but there are crucial PRDP projects in this
sector that represent PA priorities.
3. Khalid Salim said the proposed projects address
shortfalls such as lack of a sufficient legal framework,
inadequate equipment and transportation, and poor police
infrastructure. A document prepared for the PA Justice
Ministry/Judicial Authority/Prosecutor General prioritizes
Berlin proposals as: a) modern courthouses and prosecutor
offices; b) a forensic medical institute; and c) development
of prosecution capacity. The PA police listed 14 projects: 8
in infrastructure improvements, 5 in training/staff
development and 1 in strategic communications.
GERMANY: "BERLIN NOT INTENDED
AS PLEDGING CONFERENCE"
-----------------------------
4. While German representatives have been careful not to bill
the Berlin conference as a pledging event, the PA and several
other participants state that Berlin should involve specific
pledges and rely on a project-based approach for PA donor
funding. (Note: The Director of EUPOLCOPPS, the EU's police
training and assistance team, has repeatedly told PolOffs
that he expects specific pledges for police assistance to
result from the Berlin meeting. EU Envoy Marc Otte told the
Consul General that he sees Berlin as "a little of both." He
expects donors to announce support for PA projects in Berlin,
but most will rely on unallocated funds from Paris pledges,
meaning the Germans are technically correct that Berlin is
not a pledging conference. End note).
FUNDING MECHANISMS
------------------
5. Ministry of Finance Director-General for International
Relations Mazen Jadallah briefed the group on the PA,s
efforts to strengthen the public financial management system.
He noted that the PA,s preference is for donors to
contribute directly to the Ministry of Finance's Single
Treasury Account (STA), an approach that has been supported
by the World Bank and IMF. He emphasized the system's
transparency, reliability, and accountability. The EU
representative offered the PEGASE mechanism as an additional
means by which donors could provide assistance to the PA.
EXPECTED PARTICIPATION
----------------------
6. Participants indicated that Canada, Egypt, Italy, Jordan,
Netherlands, Sweden, and Turkey will participate at the
Foreign Minister-level. 10 other countries' attendance is
pending confirmation, including Israel. PA reps indicated
that PM Fayyad will attend,
WALLES