French Consul General Pierre Cochard signed a funding agreement on Wednesday with Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara, to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) with 8 million euros ($8.55 million).

Bishara said that the agreement was signed during an annual French-Palestinian meeting held at the Palestinian Public Finance institute in Ramallah, which was also founded and funded by France.Bishara expressed his hopes in maintaining strong relations between the Palestinian Finance Ministry and the French consulate.

He also affirmed that France has been Palestine’s most important partner in the process of development and financial support for the last 20 years. He expressed appreciation for France’s position in supporting and defending Palestinian rights, and also for France’s efforts to hold an international Israeli-Palestinian peace conference before the end of the year.

“We share with France the grief and pain felt after the attacks France faced this year. In a world that faces many challenges and tragedies, France stands as the voice of wisdom and reason,” Bishara said after the meeting.

Meanwhile, Cochard confirmed that the French will continue to support Palestine in various economic sectors.

[Source: Maan News Agency]