OSLO, Dec 8 (AFP) - The United States will give the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority 20 million dollars in aid to resolve its immediate budget woes, US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns said on Wednesday.
"All of us must act with a real sense of what's at stake at this enormously promising but fragile moment, and with a real sense of urgency," Burns told a Palestinian donors' meeting in Oslo almost one month after the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
"As President Bush has made clear, the United States will do its part," Burns added.
In addition to the 20 million dollars, Washington will also provide 2.5 million dollars worth of technical assistance for the January 9 elections to choose Arafat's scuccessor and another one million to finance the presence of international observers during the vote, Burns said.
"Palestinians deserve credit for their careful management of a difficult leadership transition, and their commitment to the electoral process," Burns said.
The United States froze ties with Arafat in early 2002, accusing him of not doing enough to put an end to extremists' attacks on Israel.
Overall, the United States, which is accused of favouring Israel in the Middle East conflict, has given about 200 million dollars in aid to the Palestinians in 2004.
12/08/2004 17:34 GMT - AFP