ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Igman Initiative, a project launched by three NGOs from Croatia, Bosnia, and Yugoslavia, briefed reporters in Zagreb on Thursday about its work and proposals for the establishment of a free trade zone in
the Dayton triangle and the revocation of visa requirements in this region. An expert team of the Initiative proposes the harmonisation of bilateral free trade agreements between Croatia, Bosnia, and Yugoslavia, and the establishment of mechanisms to follow their implementation. The three countries should sign the agreements by the end of the year, which will be an important step in the establishment of a free trade zone throughout South Eastern Europe. Agreements have already been signed between Croatia and Bosnia and between Bosnia and Yugoslavia. Croatia and Yugoslavia should sign one soon. The expert team also proposes introducing a no-visa regime between the three co
ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Igman Initiative, a project launched by
three NGOs from Croatia, Bosnia, and Yugoslavia, briefed reporters
in Zagreb on Thursday about its work and proposals for the
establishment of a free trade zone in the Dayton triangle and the
revocation of visa requirements in this region.
An expert team of the Initiative proposes the harmonisation of
bilateral free trade agreements between Croatia, Bosnia, and
Yugoslavia, and the establishment of mechanisms to follow their
implementation.
The three countries should sign the agreements by the end of the
year, which will be an important step in the establishment of a free
trade zone throughout South Eastern Europe.
Agreements have already been signed between Croatia and Bosnia and
between Bosnia and Yugoslavia. Croatia and Yugoslavia should sign
one soon.
The expert team also proposes introducing a no-visa regime between
the three countries.
The Croatia-Yugoslavia visa regime is one of the most rigid and
should be at least alleviated, or abolished for at least some
categories of people, said Aleksandar Popov of the Novi Sad Centre
for Regionalism.
The Bosnia-Yugoslavia visa regime has been abolished, and between
Bosnia and Croatia it never existed.
The Igman Initiative was established in November 2000 in Zagreb. It
was initiated by three non-governmental organisations - the
Citizens' Committee on Human Rights from Zagreb, the Democratic
Alternative from Sarajevo, and the Centre for Regionalism from Novi
Sad. Currently the Initiative includes more than 100 various NGOs
from Croatia, Bosnia, and Yugoslavia.
The project was named in memory of a group of NGO activists from
Serbia and Montenegro who crossed the mountain Igman in April 1995
to reach Sarajevo, at the time shelled and surrounded. Their action
was a protest against the madness of war.
The goal of the Igman Initiative is reconciliation, the
establishment and normalisation of relations in politics, economy,
and culture between Croatia, Bosnia, and Yugoslavia, and the
introduction of European standards in relations in the entire
region, in view stepping up its integration with Euro-Atlantic
structures.
(hina) ha sb