U.N. HAS TO HELP REGION'S DEVELOPMENT - CROATIAN REPRESENTATIVE

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Hina) - After extending humanitarian aid, the U.N. has to support the development of post-conflict countries of Southeast Europe, Croatia's Ambassador to the world body, Vladimir Drobnjak, said in New York on Monday. #L# Presenting a report on the work of the United Nations Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly, Drobnjak said the U.N. has to intensify efforts to ensure an easy transfer from humanitarian aid and aid in reconstruction to development projects. Drobnjak underlined the importance of direct foreign investments. These call for a stable democracy and macroeconomic incentives, so countries in the region need help in developing appropriate institutions, he said. Drobnjak said the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, in which the U.N. participates, had helped strengthen the security of the region, its economic revival and democracy even though it had not attracted as much aid as was expected. Drobnjak went on to say that Croatia had joined a European Union statement Italy's chair submitted to the General Assembly today in connection with the bolstering of the U.N.'s role as the world's leading multilateral institution. (hina) ha