The Palestinian Authority launched its first high-level partnership for state-building with Germany Tuesday and said it hoped to start similar alliances with other governments. Premier Salam Fayyad said the German-Palestinian Steering Committee bringing together ministers from the two sides was aimed at readying the Palestinians for statehood which he said would advance the peace process.
"This is a first in our political and diplomatic co-operation," Fayyad told reporters at a joint press conference with his host, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. "We hope it will set a precedent on the European Union level, and on the international level."
Fayyad's talks with Westerwelle ran parallel to meetings between the German and Palestinian interior, economy, development and education ministers focused on the development of state institutions in the territories. Both sides said they aimed to hold similar meetings once a year. Westerwelle said the programme was also in the interest of Israel, which sees Germany as its closest ally in Europe, in preparing the Palestinians to be partners for peace with a viable, stable state.