DATE=7/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=US - BALKANS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264837
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
INTRO: The United States has announced a new fund
aimed at promoting private sector investment in
Southeastern Europe. President Clinton pledged the
establishment of such a fund last year at a gathering
of world leaders in Sarajevo, where they committed
themselves to helping rebuild the war-torn Balkans.
In announcing the new fund Wednesday, the Clinton
administration assessed the progress and challenges
facing the Balkans. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports
from the White House.
Text: It was a year ago this week that world leaders
at the Sarajevo summit agreed to a so-called Stability
Pact, to be modeled after the Marshall Plan that
helped Europe recover from World War Two.
But 12 months later, it has become clear that the
political will and funding that made the Marshall Plan
a success is missing from the Stability Pact.
The United States - which led the Nato bombing
campaign that ousted Yugoslav troops from Kosovo last
year and mediated an end to the war in Bosnia-
Herzegovina in 1995 - wants European allies to take
the lead in helping financing the cost of rebuilding
the region.
U-S National Security Advisor Sandy Berger suggested
that international funding has not been forthcoming
because southeastern European countries have not gone
far enough in implementing reforms.
// Berger actuality //
We have made clear that the nations of Southeast
Europe must undertake their own reforms to
attract investment. They must work together.
This cannot be a race where the better-off
countries in the region try to escape the
Balkans at the expense of their neighbors.
// end act //
In an effort to help the process along, Mr. Berger
announced the United States is making good on Mr.
Clinton's pledge to set up a fund to promote new
business development, expansion and privatization.
The 150-million dollar Southeast Europe Equity Fund
will be financed by the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation and managed by a company run by American
philanthropist and businessman George Soros.
The fund will serve Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia,
Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Romania, Slovenia, Montenegro and Turkey - what the
White House calls an emerging consumer market of 112
million people.
While acknowledging that the rebuilding effort has
been slow in the region, and that ethnic tensions
remain, National Security Advisor Berger says there
has been some progress toward overcoming the legacy of
war.
// Berger actuality //
The stability pact has spurred cooperative
efforts to remove landmines, and to use
children's textbooks to breakdown ethnic
stereotypes. Bosnia now has a working democracy,
refugee returns there continue to rise, and the
people are increasingly looking for leaders to
deliver jobs instead of preaching hate. Croatia
finally enjoys democracy.
// end act //
He said regional leaders are overcoming what he called
`old habits of isolation' and beginning to work
together - noting that a series of border treaties and
trade agreements were signed last year.
But Mr. Berger said there is one exception to the
trend - Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
He said the Serbian leader remains an obstacle to a
unified, democratic and free Europe:
// Berger actuality //
The last malignant dictatorship in Europe
remains a threat. We will continue to support
the Democratic opposition in Serbia, back the
people of Montenegro until they take their
rightful place among the free and prosperous
people of Europe. Until Serbia is a democracy,
with new leadership, it will be a millstone
dragging down the entire region.
// end act //
Mr. Berger says President Clinton will discuss efforts
to bring democratic change to Serbia and assess the
rebuilding effort in the Balkans when he meets with
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic (STEP-en MEZ-ich) at
the White House on August ninth. (signed)
Neb/dat/PT
26-Jul-2000 17:10 PM EDT (26-Jul-2000 2110 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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