REPS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS SPEAK AT CEI SUMMIT

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - Representatives of international organisations on Friday talked about their experience in cooperation with Central European Initiative (CEI) member- countries at a CEI summit which is being held in Zagreb as a part of the Economic Forum. Sandor Sipos, a delegate of the World Bank, stressed that statistics show that direct foreign investing initiate economic development more than anything else. As a pre-condition for opening any country's market, Sipos pointed out local companies should strengthen so they could equally compete on new markets and in new conditions. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Secretary- General, Antonio Mario Costa, said the main problem in CEI countries, in which the EBRD has its projects, was a deficit of foreign-trade balance. He pointed out that the deficit appeared not only because of internal problems in transition counties, but also because of foreign influence. A representative of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Thomas Price, pointed out the close bond between peace and stability and economic development. He called on economy and trade ministers to continue with cooperation and assistance. A Southeast European Cooperative Initiative delegate, Branislava Stankov, spoke of former projects in CEI member-countries, and emphasised the reaching of an agreement on the improvement of local-border cooperation which, she said, was very poor in the CEI region. (hina) it mm/ha