The leaders of a Paris aid conference last month for the Palestinians said total pledges had reached US$7.7 billion (¤5.31 billion) over three years, and pressed for «further efforts» from donors. The figure was provided in a statement from the conference co-chairs late Tuesday, which said budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority for 2008 «still has to be confirmed.» The co-chairs _ French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Middle East envoy Tony Blair _ said there had been «some improvement» in the Palestinian economy since the Dec. 17 conference, but «that further efforts by all parties are required.» They also encouraged donors who are still firming up their support to give some to security projects for financing equipment, infrastructure, and training of personnel, according to the statement quoted by the Associated Press.
