Abdallah Anati, Executive Director of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), held a constructive meeting with Suat Yıldız, Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB). The encounter discussed ways to promote relations between APLA and TBB and develop an institutional framework for sustainable cooperation between both parties.

In the meeting, it was agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set an institutional framework, which would promote sustainable cooperation between Palestinian and Turkish local government units (LGUs). The MoU reflects a serious attempt to break new ground for integration and join action. It focuses on promoting municipal twinning relations, and sharing experience and knowledge in local management, sustainable development, and service development. The MoU also establishes sustainable programmes to serve as hubs for the LGUs of both parties, furnishing a greater opportunity to share ideas and innovations and strengthen effective partnerships between Palestinian and Turkish LGUs.

During the meeting, Anati asserted that “this cooperation is a strategic step towards promoting the status of Palestinian LGUs at the international level,” reflecting APLA’s commitment to maintain efforts to empower LGUs to address development challenges. APLA facilitates opportunities for fruitful cooperation with counterpart LGUs to set a paradigm of regional and international cooperation, which can be built on to expand future partnerships, serve LGU interests, and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.