ZAGREB, July 28 (Hina) - Croatia has reaped considerable political benefit from its participation in the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe over the past year, but financial assistance can be expected only next year, Tomislav Thuer,
head of the pact's department at the Croatian Foreign Ministry, said in Zagreb on Friday.
ZAGREB, July 28 (Hina) - Croatia has reaped considerable political
benefit from its participation in the Stability Pact for Southeast
Europe over the past year, but financial assistance can be expected
only next year, Tomislav Thuer, head of the pact's department at the
Croatian Foreign Ministry, said in Zagreb on Friday.#L#
The one-year balance of the pact launched in Sarajevo on 30 July
1999 is dual. On the one hand, there are major political benefits in
the stabilisation and democratisation of the region and the
inciting of regional cooperation and cooperation between the
region and the European Union, while on the other, there is
dissatisfaction with the slow pace at which the region has been
receiving material and financial assistance.
Croatia shares the ambivalent view of the Stability Pact with other
Southeast Europe countries expecting assistance from it. It is
satisfied with the pact's political and dissatisfied with its
material and financial results.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Sarajevo on Thursday
Croatia supported the pact, but that he was not satisfied with some
processes within the pact due to their slow progress or
stagnation.
Analysts say assistance is slow in coming due to the caution of
potential donors, bureaucracy, and poor political leadership.
"Croatia has redefined its attitude towards the region through the
Stability Pact, thus helping itself come closer to the EU," Thuer
told Hina. "The pact has played a significant role in creating
frameworks in which Croatia is seen as a stable and democratic
country," he said.
Croatia, however, like the other countries, can hardly expect
material assistance within the pact's projects before next year
owing to the simple fact that the funds from the EU and the countries
which expressed willingness to finance certain projects are not
covered by this year's budgets.
"We expect to 'collect' more concretely for the fact that we are the
'good guys' only next year," said Thuer.
A financial conference held in Brussels in March promised US$6
billion in support for Southeast Europe countries, including 2.3
billion for quick-start projects which must begin within the year.
Croatia was promised US$135 million for several quick-start
projects, including 100 million for 23km of a Breznicki Hum-
Varazdin highway, and 22 to modernise a Beli Manastir-Vrpolje
railway.
Thuer recently attended a meeting in Luxembourg with
representatives of the European Investment Bank, at which Croatia
was given an entirely positive welcome.
It will, however, take considerable time for the two EIB-financed
projects to begin. An EIB fact-finding mission should arrive in
Croatia in September. The EIB will be able to get a mandate for
cooperation with Croatia only towards the end of the year.
The situation is similar with a Croatian project for the return of
16,000 Serb refugees. The Brussels conference applauded the
project as a significant contribution to the protection of human
rights and restoration of confidence in the region. The US$55.6
million project requires time to find financial backers and for the
money to actually come to Croatia.
(hina) ha mm