Speech Sharm El Sheik 02 March 2009
Gunilla Carlsson, Minister for International Development Cooperation

Speech at the International Conference to support the Palestinian People, Sharm El Sheikh

Check against delivery.

Mr Chairman, may I at the outset express my deep condolences to the Palestinian people for the suffering and loss of lives in Gaza. It is especially painful to know that many victims were children. In this war both parties breached international law. We support the UN inquiry taking place and expect all parties to take responsibility for their actions.

Homes and factories can never be rebuilt without building material. Children can never be educated without books and paper. Crops can never grow without seeds. Gaza can never truly develop without private initiative, free trade and economic interaction. For all these reasons the Gaza borders must be opened unconditionally and immediately, for goods and persons, for aid and trade.

Sustainable international support is of vital importance to Palestinian reform and development. The plans and efforts of Prime Minister Fayyad have our full support.

Sweden has consistently been one of the largest donors to the Palestinian people and to Palestinian state-building. This year Sweden has allocated some SEK 700 million to Palestinian assistance. To fulfil our humanitarian commitment and meet urgent needs, we have already disbursed about half of this sum. As the third largest donor to UNRWA, I would like to take this opportunity to express our strong political support for the work of UNRWA.Our support to the Palestinian people goes where it is most needed: water, infrastructure, health, psychosocial support, civil society and Palestinian state-building.

Sweden is prepared to further increase this support. We will respond generously but also challenge other donors to be as generous. We must work jointly within existing mechanisms. Parallel structures must be avoided if we are to achieve results. We will continue to argue that basic conditions for effective international assistance must be met:
We need open borders without the obstacles imposed by Israel.
We need a reconciled and empowered Palestinian partner.
And we need Israeli commitments that investments of international donors will not once again be brought to nothing.

The occupation must end. A viable independent Palestinian state must be created, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. Gaza and the West Bank must be united. Reconciliation is necessary for the future of the Palestinian people. We support the Egyptian mediation effort. And we expect all parties to work for a lasting cease-fire and a new Palestinian government to rebuild Gaza and prepare for elections.

Mr Chairman, as Minister for Development Cooperation I am fully aware that assistance to the Palestinian people can only succeed as a complement to a credible peace process that produces tangible results on the ground.

As a member of the EU troika and as the incoming EU Presidency, I know that Europe can and will do its utmost to achieve this - notwithstanding the rather bleak circumstances we are currently facing.