UNRWA Grateful For Russia's Political, Financial Support Amid Historic Shortfall - Chief

Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Pierre Kraehenbuehl told Sputnik in an interview about his productive meetings with Russian high-level officials whom he thanked for political and financial support amid the agency's historic budget shortfall due to the lack of funding

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Pierre Kraehenbuehl told Sputnik in an interview about his productive meetings with Russian high-level officials whom he thanked for political and financial support amid the agency's historic budget shortfall due to the lack of funding.

On Tuesday, Kraehenbuehl visited Moscow and held meetings with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin, the chair of the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, Konstantin Kosachev, and the head of the Russian lower house's Foreign Affairs Committee, Leonid Slutsky. Kosachev later reaffirmed Russia's readiness to contribute $10 million to the agency over the course of five years.

"The key purpose of the conversation with Mr. Vershinin was to express my appreciation for a very strong support from the Russian Federation for UNRWA work, both politically - in the General Assembly of the United Nations and at various multilateral forums - but also financially, since we now have a multi-year agreement that was brought into effect by a decree signed by Prime Minister [Dmitry] Medvedev in 2016. According to the agreement, the Russian Federation contributes $2 million a year over a five-year period," Kraehenbuehl said, asked about the results of his visit.

He added that discussions held in Moscow were "very encouraging" and the Russian officials expressed high level "of attention and also respect" to the UNRWA work in the region.

"I thought that the meeting with Mr. Kosachev was very good. The current level of $10 million over five years is a commitment that Russia has made. Mr. Kosachev said that he would be very keen to see that, once the agreement expires in 2021, it may be extended. I am grateful for his support and I think it is very important, and we will of course continue our discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs around these issues. If any additional effort can be made to increase support in the coming years, we will value it greatly of course," the UNRWA chief said.

Last year, UNRWA faced a historic budget deficit amounting to $446 million due to Washington's decision to cut its annual $300-million funding. Immediately after, several donors, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Turkey expressed their support and increased funding of the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza.