Bethlehem 2000 project is focus of international conference

The Palestinian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation invited 1,300 international personalities to attend an international conference which will begin in Brussels, Belgium on May 11 and last for two days to support the Bethlehem 2000 project. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will attend the conference.

The undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Anis El-Kak, said today that the coordination committee of the Bethlehem 2000 project is trying to raise $300 million to support infrastructure and tourist projects in Bethlehem.

He added that his ministry asked for additional support from the donor countries in addition to that presented to the Palestinian government this year and to consider the project of Bethlehem 2000 as Palestine's project, through which the tourist sector can be developed, religious and tourists spots can be improved, financial projects can be established.

He also said, "The coordination committee of the Bethlehem 2000 project has established a fund to support the project, through which corporations and the international organizations can directly provide necessary funds through official channels."