SOFIA, Sept 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday held talks with Andrew Natsios, Secretary-General of the United States' Agency for International Development (USAID), during a two-day conference on countries in
transition the US agency organised in Sofia. The USAID has tripled its activities in Croatia, as it is very satisfied with the authorities' policy after the January 2000 elections in the country. One of the objectives of the conference in the Bulgarian capital is to establish a strategy for the development of countries in central and eastern Europe and in EuroAsia (the region called E&E). E&E is one of the four regions (the other three are Africa, Asia and Latin America) covered by the programmes of the USAID, the US Administration's independent agency which offers assistance to developing countries during their transition into democratic countries with free markets. Present at the Sofia
SOFIA, Sept 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday
held talks with Andrew Natsios, Secretary-General of the United
States' Agency for International Development (USAID), during a
two-day conference on countries in transition the US agency
organised in Sofia.
The USAID has tripled its activities in Croatia, as it is very
satisfied with the authorities' policy after the January 2000
elections in the country.
One of the objectives of the conference in the Bulgarian capital is
to establish a strategy for the development of countries in central
and eastern Europe and in EuroAsia (the region called E&E).
E&E is one of the four regions (the other three are Africa, Asia and
Latin America) covered by the programmes of the USAID, the US
Administration's independent agency which offers assistance to
developing countries during their transition into democratic
countries with free markets.
Present at the Sofia event are Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov
and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, as well as senior officials
of another 24 eastern European countries and countries established
in the area of the former Soviet Union.
The USAID organised the first conference for central and eastern
European countries in Warsaw in 1999. Croatia will be the host of
the third conference, scheduled for 2003.
Asked at Monday's press conference why Croatia was selected as the
next host of the USAID's conference, Natsios answered this was done
in recognition of Croatia's achievements.
President Stjepan Mesic is to give a speech at the Sofia conference
this afternoon.
(hina) ms