WEST PREPARED TO SECURE ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS TO HELP BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 1664 ) SARAJEVO, May 5 (Hina) - At the fourth donors' conference for Bosnia-Herzegovina which is to take place in Brussels on May 7 and 8, interested western countries are expected to offer aid worth US$1.1 billion, World Bank and European Union representatives in Bosnia-Herzegovina said in Sarajevo on Tuesday. According to head of the World Bank Mission for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rory O'Sullivan, preparations for the upcoming conference are proceeding very well, with full cooperation from both entities' governments and the Bosnian Council of Ministers. We expect US$1.1 billion to be gathered, which would fulfil almost 80 per cent of the total financial commitment the international community has assumed in order to help with the reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina, O'Sullivan said. He stressed the main aim of international donors has so far been to help with the reconstruction of war-ravaged buildings and infrastructure, and now they want to invest in production and stimulate the economic recovery of the country, along with the accelerated return of refugees. Upon the signing of the Dayton Agreement, Bosnia-Herzegovina was promised US$5.1 billion of help. Three billion dollars have been activated, with the Croat-Muslim Federation getting most of it, while the Bosnian Serb Republic received not even two per cent of help while it was ruled by hardliners. European Union Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Donato Chiarini said that was a clear policy of the international community, and that only those who fully cooperated in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement could continue to rely on help. (hina) lm as /mb 051537 MET may 98