SARAJEVO, May 14 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina needs additional one billion dollars to receive a total 5.1 billion promised upon the signing of the Dayton Accords for the reconstruction of this war-stricken country, said Didier Fau, a
deputy to the International High Representative in Sarajevo. Fau who is in charge of economic issues, told a news conference in Friday that he hoped that international donors would realise that Bosnia needed money as the reconstruction was not near completion. He said the collection of donations was one thing but their implementation in concrete projects was another given that it depended on how Bosnia's authorities were meeting obligations on which the international community insisted. This diplomat urged that the foreign assistance should be granted to Bosnia after the last donors' conference in a series of them scheduled for 20 and 21 May in Brussels. The Worl
SARAJEVO, May 14 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina needs additional one
billion dollars to receive a total 5.1 billion promised upon the
signing of the Dayton Accords for the reconstruction of this war-
stricken country, said Didier Fau, a deputy to the International
High Representative in Sarajevo.
Fau who is in charge of economic issues, told a news conference in
Friday that he hoped that international donors would realise that
Bosnia needed money as the reconstruction was not near completion.
He said the collection of donations was one thing but their
implementation in concrete projects was another given that it
depended on how Bosnia's authorities were meeting obligations on
which the international community insisted.
This diplomat urged that the foreign assistance should be granted
to Bosnia after the last donors' conference in a series of them
scheduled for 20 and 21 May in Brussels.
The World Bank and the European Union are already working on a new
programme of assistance which should succeed the current one, he
explained.
Fau expressed his expectations that reforms that had begun in
Bosnia would yield results which may attract foreign investors.
There is no area without reforms under way, he added.
The deputy of Carlos Westendorp also described conclusions of the
latest Forum of Bosnia's Croat-Moslem Federation as encouraging
since they are dedicated to economic issues.
Fau said the Croat and Bosniak (Moslem) parties had agreed on
measures aimed at the re-organisation of the current institutes for
the payment operations which should be gradually revoked and
commercial banks will take over their activities by the end of
2000.
If any politician tries to block it, he will face very serious
consequences, this international official said.
In line with decisions of the Forum, the Government of this Bosnian
entity will begin to pay in the convertible mark as of May 31 all
wages, salaries and services, whereas the German mark and kuna will
be gradually withdrawn from payment operations.
(hina) ms