The CEC, represented by its Chairman, Dr. Hanna Nassir and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) represented by its Head/ the national census director, Dr. Lozzz*zay Sahabanah signed a memorandum of understanding by which the CEC will provide the PCBS with some equipments and allow it to use its offices for eight months for the aim of contributing to the success of the "2007 general population, housing and establishmentszzz*z census" which the PCBS will conduct by the end of this year.
Dr. Nassir confirmed that the signing of the memorandum comes as a step to enhance cooperation between the two institutions and in confirmation of both organizationszzz*z commitment to continue the strategic cooperation between them. It also comes in response to the cabinetzzz*zs call for all public institutions to support this national project. Dr. Nassir also indicated that the count project is considered one of the biggest national projects that needs the support of all concerned organizations to make a success of it.
On its part, Dr. Shabanah indicated that the signing of this memorandum comes as part of the strategic cooperation between the CEC and the PCBS and in response to the cabinetzzz*zs decision issued on 16/02/2006 regarding conducting a general census for the population, housing and establishments in 2007 and its call for all organizations to take part and cooperate in performing the count by providing the national staff who will conduct the census with the necessary facilitations and to provide the needed support for the PCBS in terms of staff, offices, transportations ,communications and launching a media campaign.
On the other hand, the census national director expressed the Statistics bureauzzz*zs thanks and appreciation to the CEC for its prompt response by providing the census team with some of the necessary supplies such as offices, vehicles and computers, confirming at the same time that this memorandum comes to enhance the mutual cooperation which extended over the last period and to stress on both parties wish to continue this cooperation in the future.
According to this memorandum which was signed at the CEC headquarter in Al-Bireh, the CEC will provide the PCBS with two of its district offices in Tubas and Salfit during the general census. The CEC will also allow the PCBS to use a number of its vehicles and computers.
It should be indicated that mutual cooperation between the CEC and PCBS continued during last period in different areas where the PCBS provided the CEC with the demographic statistics for the latest Presidential and Legislative elections.
The general population census is considered to be one of the biggest statistical projects which is performed every ten years and requires the participation of the public and private sectors in several aspects such as providing equipments, transportation and communication for the field staff as well as taking part in the media campaign weather financially or by encouraging citizens to cooperate with the count staff whose number is expected to be around 7000 through all phases of the project.