CROATIAN OPEN SOCIETY PRESENTS DONATION CONTRACT

ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - Croatia and Serbia are the only two countries where the Soros Foundation is present where there are any criticisms, was said at a press conference held Thursday at the Croatian Open Society Institute. For this reason, the Institute presented the media with the full text of a donation contract being foreclosed with the Soros Foundation. In response to earlier announcements, the Institute is attempting to become more transparent and as such has organised a series of press conferences. According to the Institute's spokesman Tomislav Jakic, the aim of the press conference was to present the truth about the Institute's activities. Executive Director Karmen Basic said that the annual budget for the Institute was US$6.8 million. Donations for recommended projects are supplied by George Soros. On average, over 300 candidates from Croatia apply for grants secured by these donations. Beneficiaries are required that projects adhere to deadlines, that budgets be presented as well as expenditure reports and that the public be explicitly made aware the origin of funds granted. The donation contract particularly prohibits the use of funds for political lobbying. (Hina) sp