Finns help Palestinians establish land registry as part of development cooperation
Finnish Foreign Ministry and World Bank completing work on pilot project
|
|
|
Two men in the densely-built old Palestinian village of Beitunia are debating the exact location of the dividing line between two properties.
The situation is not an argument, but rather a discussion on the interpretation of agreements. The situation is nevertheless unusual, as it is being observed by more than ten people, including representatives of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the World Bank.
Palestinian surveyor Muhammad Shoubaki, 32, seeks to show that the elderly landowner has allowed his neighbour the use of a road passing through his property.
The thoroughfare in question is a crooked path about 20 metres in length to a house to which there is no other means of access. Maiser Khader, the 26-year-old son of the owner of the property, is trying to question the validity of the old agreement.
The question of the right to use the path was one of the final details in a land registry project for the village of Beitunia, which has been completed after nearly a year of work. Even this disagreement was resolved amicably.
The aim of the land registration project is to strengthen community structures and to create the preconditions for establishing a Palestinian state. The registry lists property lines, encumbrances, rights, and owners.
The pilot project implemented in three different villages has been financed by Finland and the World Bank.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has provided about EUR three million for the project since it started in 2005, says Dr. Tuomo Heinonen in Beitunia.
Heinonen was an expert recruited by the ministry for the project who worked there until last summer, and was now taking part in the final survey in the three villages.
The pilot project is winding down in January, but the continuity of the programme appears to be secured.
"The World Bank has given the green light to the further planning of the land registration project. Finland has informed the World Bank of its interest in supporting the project in the future as well. A final decision on the matter can be made only when plans for the continuity are ready", says project head Anna Savolainen at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
"Planning is to start immediately in January both by us and the World Bank, and final plans are to be ready for approval by the end of next year", Savolainen predicted.
Finland has been involved in developing the Palestinian land registry system from the beginning of the decade.
"By joining forces with the World Bank we can get more comprehensive and efficient results. Finland specifically supports practical pilot work of registration and surveying. The World Bank focuses more on the development of legislation and land use policy", Toumo Heinonen says.
On the practical level, Heinonen has worked together with Palestinian surveyors, who are quite skilled, considering the conditions that they face. GPS technology is used extensively in the work.
However, in the densely-built villages, more traditional technology, and leg work are also needed.
The engineers and the technicians need to use the walls of buildings, the edges of fences, and corners in the marking of property lines with coloured paint. Aerial photography is also used, but only within the limits set by Israeli authorities.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 2.1.2008 - TODAY |
 Finns help Palestinians establish land registry as part of development cooperation |
|
