SARAJEVO, Feb 15 (Hina) - Bodo Hombach, the Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, on Tuesday said the launching of programmes for the economic recovery of southeastern European countries would be backed with
significant financial means. Speaking at the opening of a two-day conference of the Stability's Pact working table on security issues in Sarajevo, the German diplomat confirmed that a conference of donors had been scheduled for March and participants would allocate 10 billion euro for the economic recovery of this Europe region. The financial assistance will be offered as part of the so-called package for the speedy start and a majority of this amount will be earmarked by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Hombach reiterated that the Stability Pact was primarily a framework for the cooperation between the countries in the r
SARAJEVO, Feb 15 (Hina) - Bodo Hombach, the Coordinator of the
Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, on Tuesday said the launching
of programmes for the economic recovery of southeastern European
countries would be backed with significant financial means.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day conference of the Stability's
Pact working table on security issues in Sarajevo, the German
diplomat confirmed that a conference of donors had been scheduled
for March and participants would allocate 10 billion euro for the
economic recovery of this Europe region.
The financial assistance will be offered as part of the so-called
package for the speedy start and a majority of this amount will be
earmarked by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD).
Hombach reiterated that the Stability Pact was primarily a
framework for the cooperation between the countries in the region
and they would receive the support of the international community
in their efforts. It is a two-way process where security and
economic issues are closely linked.
About 60 delegations of countries and international organisations
have gathered at the two-day event in Sarajevo, which was opened
today by Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-man Presidency's chairman,
Alija Izetbegovic.
Addressing participants, Izetbegovic said his country had already
taken first steps towards strengthening the confidence of the
international community in the region. In 1999, Bosnia cut its
military potentials by 15 percent. "We are intending to keep
cutting it this year, expecting from our neighbouring countries to
do the same," he told the gathered.
The Bosnian Presidency's chairman suggested the set-up of joint
peace forces of southeastern Europe and the establishment of
centres for their training. This Bosnian Moslem leader said Bosnia
would be happy to be able to organise one of such centres.
Participants in the two-day conference of the Pact's security
working table are going to discuss the lessening of military forces
and cuts in military expenditure, democratic control over armed
units, the re-organisation of police, the fight against organised
crime and the functioning of judiciary in the south-east of
Europe.
(hina) ms