SARAJEVO, May 11 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the Bosnian Croat-Moslem Federation can soon face serious consequences of a drop in the international financial support in case they fail to speed up reforms which should give
an incentive to the foreign investments, U.S. diplomats Jacques Klein and Richard Kauzlarich warned on Tuesday. During their introductory speeches at a session of the Forum of the Federation convened after almost a one-year recess, the Americans said the attention of the international community would have to be shifted from Bosnia to Kosovo, i.e. Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), whereas the means which the international community can invest in southeastern Europe were limited. The time left available to Bosnia is ticking away, as the Kosovo crisis requires our new resources, attention and efforts," said Klein, who is a deputy of international High Representative to Bosnia. Klein called o
SARAJEVO, May 11 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the
Bosnian Croat-Moslem Federation can soon face serious consequences
of a drop in the international financial support in case they fail
to speed up reforms which should give an incentive to the foreign
investments, U.S. diplomats Jacques Klein and Richard Kauzlarich
warned on Tuesday.
During their introductory speeches at a session of the Forum of the
Federation convened after almost a one-year recess, the Americans
said the attention of the international community would have to be
shifted from Bosnia to Kosovo, i.e. Yugoslavia
(Serbia/Montenegro), whereas the means which the international
community can invest in southeastern Europe were limited.
The time left available to Bosnia is ticking away, as the Kosovo
crisis requires our new resources, attention and efforts," said
Klein, who is a deputy of international High Representative to
Bosnia.
Klein called on all factors in the Federation to take prompt
measures to stimulate the economy and give priority to speedy
privatisation, the re-organisation of the current payment
operations institutes, the fulfilment of provisions of the stand-
by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund and the reform
of the public sector.
He also insisted on the urgent adoption of a law on the federal
television and radio adding that the recent case when Croatia's
daily's reporters were attacked in western Mostar proved how much
important it was to ensure the freedom of the press in Bosnia.
Kauzlarich, who is the United States' Ambassador in Sarajevo,
warned that a failure to solve the current economic crisis in the
Federation would have serious long-term repercussions, and even
donors' conference announced for this month could be postponed.
Kauzlarich cited the adoption of a law on the Federal radio and
Television as a condition for new donations.
The American Ambassador said he was shocked at the existence of
parallel structures of authorities - of the former Herzeg-Bosna and
Republic of BiH.
The Federation's President Ivo Andric-Luzanski assessed that this
Bosnia's entity had now the last chance relating the economic
reforms which are the only path to attract the foreign capital.
According to the Federal Vice President, Ejup Ganic, the resistance
to the building of structures of this entity is the strongest in the
financial sector.
Premier Edhem Bicakcic reiterated that the Federation needed
international financial assistance.
"Bosnia is still far from what we would like to make out of it," said
Vice Premier Dragan Covic. He warned that a level of confidence
between the three constituent peoples in the country was still very
low, whereas the establishment of a viable economy would not happen
soon.
The conclusions of the Forum of the Federation, which is holding the
session behind the closed doors, will be announced on Tuesday
evening.
(hina) ms