DATE=1/31/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BALKANS / STABILITY (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258635
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Government leaders and outside experts have
expressed concern about the slow progress in
implementing social, economic, and political reforms
in the Balkans, as called for last year in a so-called
Stability Pact for the region. V-O-A's Barry Wood
reports on the discussions about the Balkans at the
World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
TEXT: Financier George Soros says the European Union
is dragging its feet in implementing its promised aid
program for the region. Speaking on a panel that
included the presidents of Albania and Macedonia, Mr.
Soros said the much-heralded stability pact is an
empty vessel, waiting to be financed and implemented.
/// SOROS ACT ///
It's really a question of breaking the
administrative and financial logjam. And as
President Trajkovski of Macedonia said, there
are many donors with very different interests.
/// END ACT ///
Another speaker, United Nations Balkan envoy Carl
Bildt, complains that because political and economic
progress has been so slow in the region, there is
little prospect that the 80-thousand NATO and other
peacekeeping troops can be withdrawn anytime soon.
Mr. Bildt said he is worried by the lack of economic
progress throughout the former Yugoslavia.
/// BILDT ACT ///
This part of Europe, and former Yugoslavia
(economically), was ahead of the pack 15 years
ago -- don't forget that -- they are now way,
way down. Serbia is probably the poorest of
countries in Europe. None of them are even in
the vicinity of where they were in 1990. People
are poor, they are unemployed, and the young
people in very many places don't see very much
hope for the future.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Bildt says positive developments include the
European Union's invitation to Bulgaria and Romania to
begin membership negotiations, and the peaceful
changes of leadership in Macedonia and Croatia.
A newspaper publisher in Pristina, Veton Surroi, says
he regrets that Kosovo is not included in the
Stability Pact. Mr. Surroi said the six-month absence
of a functioning infrastructure is the cause of
lawlessness in Kosovo.
/// SURROI ACT ///
Imagine by comparison (normally tolerant)
Switzerland, not six months but six days without
policemen, courts, money, wages for doctors and
teachers, electricity, water, and having gone
through some kind of difficulty. All you need
is not a whole society to turn negative. All
you need is an organized group of 100 men and
they will disrupt this whole society. And this
is what we are facing.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Surroi says with the absence of a local police
force in Kosovo, there is little deterrent for
criminals as NATO troops quickly release the
lawbreakers they arrest.
All of the participants agreed that economic progress
is the key to peace in the Balkans. (Signed)
NEB/BDW/JWH/KL
31-Jan-2000 12:57 PM EDT (31-Jan-2000 1757 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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